AN official probe will be launched into Gloucestershire’s severe hospital delays as queues of up to 25 ambulances wait to transfer patients during hot weather.

Ambulance chiefs spoke of how the service is under “intense and sustained” pressure and handover delays remain their biggest challenge.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust lost around 10,000 hours waiting to hand over patients last week.

Gloucestershire County Council ’s health overview and scrutiny committee has agreed to investigate the problems Chairman Cllr Andrew Gravells (Con Gloucester Abbey) told the committee on Tuesday, July 12 that the situation was “really brought home” to him when he recently visited Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and saw dozens of ambulances waiting to hand over patients in the heat.

“When I had to walk from the car park to the X-ray and imaging department, as usual, there were about 25 ambulances stacked up,” he said.

Cllr Gravells said they need to review the “system flow” as soon as possible.

One Gloucestershire Integrated Care System strategy and transformation director Ellen Rule said they work closely with the ambulance service, the hospitals and social care sector and will be undertaking a strategic review which will look at the whole system.

“As well as the strategic review, we have a whole system action plan which ensures we work together to deliver the improvements to flow and performance across our urgent and emergency care system.”