New fall in waiting times for ambulances and accident and emergency services in Peterborough and surrounding area
Waiting times for ambulances and accident and emergency services in Peterborough and the surrounding area have fallen, according to new figures.
New data shows the improvement in emergency services last month came despite a busy March during which the health service experienced a ‘prolonged winter’.
There were 246,631 attendances to A&E departments across the region in March 2026 – nearly 2,000 more than March last year.
Despite this significant demand, more than three quarters of people arriving in the region’s A&Es were seen within four hours (76.7 per cent) – an improvement from 73.8 per cent during March 2025.
And ambulance response times in the East of England for the most serious incidents, such as suspected heart attacks and strokes (Category 2 calls), were the fastest in almost five years, averaging 28 minutes and 15 seconds in March – the best performance since May 2021.
In addition, the NHS in the East of England saw further reductions in the size of waiting lists, with the total in the region dropping to 902,000 in February 2026 – a decrease of 6,661 compared to January 2026 and of more than 35,000 compared to February 2025.
Latest NHS data also shows the NHS in the East of England is diagnosing or giving more cancer patients the all clear within four weeks more quickly than previous years.
Close to four in five patients (78.3 per cent) in the region with suspected cancer received a diagnosis or had cancer ruled out within 28 days in February 2026 – up from 77.7 per cent the same time last year.
The NHS in the East of England also carried out 264,406 vital tests and checks during February 2026.
Professor Edward Morris, regional medical director for NHS England – East of England, said: “It’s thanks to the incredible work of NHS staff across the East of England that we’re seeing such important improvements to services for our patients – including shorter waits in A&E, faster ambulance response times and a drop in the overall waiting list.
“The fact this progress has been made despite prolonged winter demand on the region’s health service – and the disruption caused by industrial action – makes it all the more impressive.”