SOUTH Central Ambulance Trust says it has been working with hospitals in the region to improve patient handover in accident and emergency departments.

It comes after the Labour Party revealed an increase in waiting times for patients in ambulance queues at hospitals over the past two years following a Freedom of Information request.

Although the results did not highlight the hospitals affected, the figures showed a seven-fold increase in the number of patients who waited over two hours in ambulances outside A&E departments in the South Central Ambulance Trust area.

A spokesman for South Central Ambulance Trust said: “There has been a significant increase in demand on both ambulance and hospital services year on year.

“We have been working closely with all our hospitals for some time to improve processes for the handover of patients in A&E departments.

“We have internal escalation processes that are instigated when required and this involves ambulance and hospital staff working closely together “With the introduction of the non-emergency NHS 111 healthline, SCAS is hoping that by delivering the service in the Hampshire area, it will be able to help patients find the most appropriate channel for medical support and this may not necessarily mean being seen in an A&E department.”