Friday 10 June 2022 11:58 PM Investigation launched into risk to patients who are left for hours outside A&E ... trends now

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A major investigation has been launched into the risk to patients from being left for hours in ambulances outside A&E departments.

The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch is carrying out a nationwide review of the waits desperately ill people face because paramedics cannot get them into overcrowded hospitals.

The watchdog’s intervention comes after so-called ‘handover delays’ reached record levels across the NHS in recent months.

It is due to deliver its interim findings on Wednesday.

Some patients have been left waiting for as long as 24 hours while the knock-on effects mean that dozens have died at home because ambulances were stuck in queues.

And it risks becoming a problem for the Government after Sir Keir Starmer raised it at Prime Minister’s Questions this week, telling the harrowing story of Bina Patel, 56, who died after waiting almost an hour for an ambulance after suffering cardiac arrest at home.