Staffordshire's NHS is coping with winter better than last year but 'challenges remain', bosses say.

Ambulance handovers at University Hospitals of North Midlands took an average of one hour 35 minutes in December, while less than two-thirds of emergency patients were admitted or discharged within the four hour target.

But senior managers say there have been improvements in performance since last winter.

Board members at Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board were given an update on the winter plan at their bi-monthly meeting on Thursday.

Phil Smith, chief officer for system development and integration, told the board that the health system had faced an earlier-than-expected wave of flu and RSV along with resident doctors' industrial action in December.

But he said that despite these challenges, there had been 'absolutely incredible work' at reducing hospital bed occupancy in the run-up to Christmas – UHNM got to 78 per cent occupancy by December 24.

Mr Smith praised the work that was undertaken on mobilising schemes for winter, such as the provision of 40 additional community beds. He said that while performance data showed an improvement on last year, some were still 'nowhere near' good enough.

Mr Smith said: "Clearly challenges remain – the numbers speak for themselves. Four hour performance is not even close to where we want it to be for our population – 64 per cent at UHNM in December.

"Similarly, category two response times against 30 minute expectation, 43 minutes in SSOT, 40 minutes in STW. That is not an acceptable position, but it does represent a 30 per cent improvement on December 2024.

"Similarly, in terms of average handover times, both UHNM and Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital were at one hour 35 in December, which was about 20 per cent better than the year before. Clearly nowhere near where we want it to be, but an improvement nonetheless.

"We're still very much in winter. Over the next two months try we will try and improve the position further, and get new initiatives off the ground, like the X-ray car which launched earlier this month. It's a really innovative scheme and I'm looking forward to seeing the impact of that."

Simon Constable, chief executive at UHNM, told the board there were some 'early green shoots of recovery', noting the impact of the 'Release to Respond' scheme on ambulance handovers this month.

He said: "It feels better than last year, and while the figures aren't where we would want them to be there has been a definite improvement. But none of us are resting on our laurels, and we're still unsatisfied with how we've ended up, particularly with regards to four hours and ambulance handover delays.

"We're working with West Midlands Ambulance Service on Release to Repond, where we'll be working towards a maximum 45 minute ambulance handover.

"That's still three times where we should be, but is is better than what we have been delivering. We've been doing that just under two-and-a-half weeks and I think it's fair to say it is having an impact."

Rachel Gallyot, interim chief medical officer, said improving vaccination rates had made a difference this year in terms of reducing pressure on services.

She said: "The increase in vaccination rates have made a real improvement, and we must never take our eyes off how important it is in making sure people don't get ill in the first place. A focus on vaccination every year is something we need to continue to press."

Mr Smith said the ICB plans to hold learning events after Easter, which will help inform next year's winter plan.