Written question WQ100463

The national expectation is that ambulance patient handovers are completed within 15 minutes wherever possible, with 45 minutes recognised only as the upper limit for safe handover performance, not the intended standard. Health boards should therefore focus on achieving and sustaining 15-minute handovers while ensuring that no patient waits beyond 45 minutes. These expectations are set out in our NHS Wales Ambulance Patient Handover Guidance.

Progress is being monitored through established performance and accountability arrangements, with health boards expected to have robust improvement plans in place ahead of winter 2026-27.

Ambulance handover performance is already reported publicly through NHS Wales performance publications. We will continue to keep reporting arrangements under review to ensure transparency and support improvement, including scrutiny of handover timeliness, delays and remedial action where performance falls below expected standards.

Achieving consistent 15-minute handovers remains the long-term ambition. Health boards are expected to demonstrate continuous improvement towards this standard, supported by local and national actions to improve patient flow, reduce hospital crowding and strengthen whole-system discharge arrangements.