Ambulance service reports significant improvements in patient care and performance

 The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has highlighted major improvements in patient care, response times and operational performance in its Annual Report and Accounts 2025/26. 

The report outlines a year of significant progress for the Trust, including improved ambulance response times, nationally leading clinical outcomes in areas and increased productivity - helping more patients get the right care at the right time.  

For the first time since the pandemic, EEAST achieved the national Category 2 ambulance response time target in March 2026. The national response time standard for C2 incidents within the 2025-26 reporting period was an average of 30 minutes. This has now changed to a 25-minute temporary standard for 2026-27. The Trust also recorded year-on-year improvements in responding for its most seriously ill patients, responding to Category 2 patients six minutes faster than in the previous year. 

EEAST continued to deliver some fantastic clinical outcomes, achieving high national performance for stroke care, cardiac arrest treatment and post-cardiac arrest care. The Trust's innovative Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest desk, launched during the year, is already improving patient outcomes and is being adopted elsewhere in the NHS.  

More patients are also receiving appropriate care without needing to attend hospital. Hear and Treat rates increased to 18%, meaning more people received clinical advice, assessment and support over the phone or were directed to the most appropriate healthcare service.  

Alongside improvements in clinical care, the Trust achieved a 9% increase in productivity and significantly reduced vehicle downtime, helping ensure more ambulances were available to respond to patients when needed.  

Neill Moloney, Chief Executive of EEAST, said: "I am incredibly proud of what our people have achieved over the last year. All our key measures have improved significantly, and we have demonstrated what can be achieved when our people come together with a shared focus on improving care for patients. 

"We have seen improvements in response times, increased the number of patients receiving the right care in the right place. 

"These achievements are only possible because of the exceptional dedication and professionalism of our staff, volunteers and partners across the east of England." 

Despite the progress made, the annual report acknowledges there is more work to do, particularly in addressing hospital handover delays and continuing to improve staff experience, wellbeing and organisational culture. These areas will be key priorities for the Trust during 2026/27. 

Neill added: “While challenges remain, we are determined to continue building on this progress and working with our partners across the NHS to improve services for the communities we serve and for our people working to deliver that care." 

The full Annual Report and Accounts 2025/26 can be viewed on the EEAST website.

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