Government misses ambulance response target again

12.00.00am GMT Wed 3rd Feb 2010

New statistics released today, revealing a dip in the performance of the Welsh Ambulance Trust for December show that the government has failed to address the problems faced by the service.

The statistics show that only 59% of Category A 'life threatening' calls to the ambulance service resulted in the patient being reached within eight minutes, despite a government target of 65%. In Ceredigion, only 46% of responses were within the target time, compared to 74% in Denbighshire.

While there has been an improvement in response times throughout the year, Mr. Black warned that this was not sustainable whilst the financial future of the service remains unclear.

Mr. Black said:

"It is disappointing but not surprising to see a drop in response times. Performance always varies with the seasons. However the Minister should be working with the Ambulance Trust to ensure that patients are not put at risk at any time of the year."

"What these statistics do not show is how long some patients end up having to wait. Many patients who need an ambulance for a non-emergency call can end up experiencing considerable delays. I am aware of one pensioner with a broken ankle who had to wait over ten hours for an ambulance."

"The Minister must cancel the Ambulance Trust's debt as she has for other NHS bodies and deliver the extra £5 million a year recommended by a recent independent efficiency review so as to provide the financial security and investment needed to deliver better a performance in the future."

ENDS

Notes: Full statistics can be found at http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=14234