The number of ambulances waiting more than 15 minutes to hand patients over at Colchester’s A&E department has increased nearly five-fold in just four years.

New figures reveal that in 2009/10 2,272 ambulances were left waiting more than a quarter of an hour to transfer patients at Colchester General Hospital while the number jumped to 10,999 last year.

The data also show a marked year-on-year increase in waiting times from 4,484 in 2010/11 to 6,288 the following year.

The rise in delays in handing over patients at Colchester General Hospital was second only to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in the eastern region.

Jason Gillingham, north Essex general manager for East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST), said steps are being taken to improve the waiting times.

“We have seen hospital handover delays increasing but we are working hard with our colleagues to minimise them as much as possible,” he added.

“We are in the process of appointing an ambulance liaison officer to manage any potential delays and work very closely with hospital staff to ensure that our crews are back out seeing patients as quickly as possible.

“We enjoy a good working relationship with Colchester General Hospital and are pleased to see their A&E department expanding.”

A total of 24,043 EEAST ambulances were delayed in handing over patients between 2009/10 and 2012/13.

Meanwhile the total number of patients transferred by ambulance to the hospital in the same period was 102,889.

Hospitals are required to meet a target of 85% of patients being seen within 15 minutes of their arrival by ambulance.

A Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: “We have a positive relationship with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust and both organisations are committed to working together to provide the highest possible quality of care for patients.

“We do not recognise the figures provided by the ambulance service and have no means of validating them.

“However, we are working with the Ambulance Trust to come up with a process which allows rapid identification of any delays which could impede a patient being handed over promptly.

“We believe the discussions currently occurring are beneficial and that jointly this will lead to a solution that is good for all, most importantly patients.”