AMBULANCE response times have skyrocketed in the last three years, with some patients waiting more than three hours for an ambulance.
Scenes like the ones in December of more than 16 ambulances queueing outside accident and emergency at Poole Hospital is becoming more common as emergency departments struggle with patient numbers, handovers and Covid responses.
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWAFT) said high numbers of ambulances currently waiting for "prolonged periods of time" at hospital emergency departments "inevitably impacts" their ability to respond to patients.
Patients suffering with life-threatening injuries and illnesses, such as a cardiac arrest or serious allergic reaction were waiting more than 11 minutes in December 2021 - a figure that has increased by nearly a third since 2019.
The highest rise in response times came in the category two calls which increased by more than 140 per cent between the same time period.
Category two responses cover all serious conditions such as stroke or chest pain which may require rapid assessment and/or urgent transport.
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The figures, obtained by the Daily Echo through an Freedom of Information Act request, relate to SWAFT emergency response times between 2019 and 2021.
Urgent problems, such as an uncomplicated diabetic issue, which requires treatment and transport to an acute setting are category three.
The response times for category three call outs doubled in the same three years - going from an hour and a half to more than three hours.
A spokesperson for SWAFT said: “Due to the health and social care system being under severe pressure, some patients are having to wait longer for an ambulance.
"One of the reasons for this is due to the length of time it’s taking us to hand over patients into busy hospitals.
“We are working closely with NHS partners to address these delays, so our crews can get back out on the road for other patients.
"However, even with the additional resources we are making available, the number of ambulances currently waiting for prolonged periods of time at Emergency Departments inevitably impacts on our ability to respond to patients.”
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