Average ambulance turnaround times almost twice the national target

The longest turnaround times in the country were at University Hospital Kerry, which saw waits of one hour and 29 minutes in September. File Picture: Domnick Walsh

Ambulances across Ireland are being forced to wait for almost 60 minutes on average - almost twice the HSE target - at hospitals before unloading a patient getting back on the road.

Turnaround times involve the amount of time from the ambulance arrival time to when the crew declares the readiness of the ambulance to accept another call.