Worthing A&E Nurses Smash Ambulance Handover Targets
The nursing team at Worthing Hospital’s A&E has bagged the Star of the Month award for slashing ambulance turnaround times. Their professionalism and teamwork have made a massive difference, keeping patients moving quickly into care.
Beating The Clock Against The Odds
Ambulance crews aim to transfer patients to hospital care within 15 minutes. But surges in demand often cause delays. Across the South East, average ambulance handovers at 18 hospitals lag at 44% of the national target.
Not Worthing. Their A&E smashed the national benchmark with a 70% performance rate. Princess Royal Hospital, also part of UHSussex, matched this stellar achievement.
Game-Changing Improvements
This success follows six months of continuous tweaks under the Trust’s Patient First Improvement Programme. These changes are now baked into daily routines, boosting efficiency and patient care. Plus, ambulance crews can now get back on the road faster, helping more people across Sussex.
Julie Thomas, Divisional Director of Nursing, said: “Patient care is at the heart of this with the emergency department staff pulling together as a team to offload and release ambulances even when under great pressure.”
The strong caring culture means patients always come first. Staff get that quick ambulance turnaround saves lives by keeping paramedics rolling to urgent calls.
“This team continues to strive daily to ensure timely care for all patients who attend A&E by ambulance or walk-in routes, with the leadership team constantly reviewing and adapting ways of working to prioritise excellent care for all patients.”
“Overall, the compassion shown to all patients and colleagues despite the daily challenges of a busy emergency department is truly exceptional.”
Grateful Patients and Praise for Nurses
A patient praised the team: “What a lovely, caring hospital. From admission through A&E to discharge later in the evening I experienced the highest standards of care and compassion. The department was so busy but every interaction I observed was unhurried, kind and professional. I went home feeling as if the health professionals at that hospital cared about me as an individual.”
Tori Cooper, Hospital Director of Nursing at Worthing, added: “Our teams in A&E are working extremely hard to see the patients who need to see us. The focus on patient care, experience and continuous improvement in often very challenging circumstances is to be commended.”
“Thank you to our nursing team at Worthing emergency department for adding to this and showing your commitment and professionalism to UHSussex.”
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