Ambulance response delays, offload delays and system capacity constraints in publicly funded EMS systems among the CANZUK countries: A scoping review

This project will conduct a scoping review to map existing evidence on ambulance response delays, offload delays and system capacity constraints among the CANZUK nations. Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand were chosen due to the nations sharing similar emergency medical service (EMS) structures. The review will examine recent peer-reviewed literature for documented causes of ambulance offload delays and shortages, how delays contribute to reduced availability, and the impacts on patient outcomes, healthcare operations, and system capacity. It will also identify the reported strategies implemented or proposed to address these issues.