AMBULANCE handover times in Colchester are the worst in the East of England.

In January, more than 870 hours were lost with ambulances waiting to transfer a patient to the hospital.

Ambulance crews are supposed to transfer patients when they arrive at hospital within 15 minutes.

But figures show a total of 28 hours are being wasted during transfers at Colchester General Hospital every day.

The average in the East of England is closer to eight hours. At Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, it was 16 hours a day, the third worst in the East of England.

A spokesman for Colchester General Hospital apologised for the problems.

He said: “We continue to work closely with ambulance service colleagues to address this issue.

“For example, we have hospital ambulance liaison officers, who are employees of the ambulance service based in our emergency department to help to facilitate the handover of patients.

“What is important is all patients are at all times in the care of appropriately qualified health professionals.”