What is Handover 45?
NHS England North West, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), ICBs and Trusts are working together to improve ambulance response times. All ambulance handovers must be completed within 45 minutes.
This aligns with the NHS Operational Planning Guidance and Urgent and Emergency Care Plan 2025/26.
The underpinning handover standard has always been and remains at 15 minutes upon arrival. This often exceeds 45 minutes across our sites and the North West, with more than 10% of ambulance handovers exceeding the maximum 45 minute standard.
Delayed handovers negatively impact patient outcomes and reduces the availability of ambulance vehicles returning to the community to assist with other emergency calls.
An ambulance held at the hospital, is an emergency waiting longer than required in the community.
The maximum handover time of 45 mins is key to improving ambulance response times, by releasing the vehicle and crew to respond to other emergencies, reducing risk and improved patient outcomes.
The HO45 protocol is designed to limit handover delays to a maximum of 45 minutes, with the goal of achieving 95% handovers within 15 minutes.
All hospitals with Type 1 EDs must implement local escalation protocols to support and deliver HO45.
| Thumbnail | Title | Filename | Date Posted | Size |
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Staff Briefing - Handover 45 RLH ED and Wards | Staff_Briefing_-_Handover_45__RLH_ED_and_Wards.pdf | 01/10/2025 | 0.26 MB |
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Staff Briefing - Handover 45 AUH ED and Wards | Staff_Briefing_-_Handover_45__AUH_ED_and_Wards.pdf | 01/10/2025 | 0.26 MB |
