Ambulance response times are getting worse

Written by Peter Black and published in Seaside News February 2009 on Fri 16th Jan 2009

Having just recently taken over as the Welsh Liberal Democrat health spokesperson I was concerned to discover the problems facing the Ambulance Service. For the third month running, the response time for Ambulances arriving at a scene within the target eight minutes has fallen, from 60.9% in September to 57.1% in November. The All-Wales target is currently set at 65%.

In Bridgend just half of all emergency ambulance call-outs get to the patient within the proscribed eight minutes.

Last month we saw A&E departments across South Wales operating at full capacity and the situation is not improving. The cold snap is putting a huge demand on our hospitals and our Ambulance Service. I am extremely worried that despite the best efforts of a hard-working and dedicated staff, our National Health Service won't be able to cope.

I will be pressing the Minister in my new role to take action over the Ambulance Service. They are being crippled by an historical debt that is affecting their ability to invest to improve. Only when this is dealt with will we see the improvements the service needs so urgently.