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Ambulance 'crisis' findings due Ambulance 'crisis' findings due
(about 1 hour later)
The results of an official inquiry into the state of the Welsh Ambulance Service are due to be revealed later.The results of an official inquiry into the state of the Welsh Ambulance Service are due to be revealed later.
It follows a period that has seen ambulance response times worsen and three different chief executives in charge in as many months.It follows a period that has seen ambulance response times worsen and three different chief executives in charge in as many months.
Auditor General Jeremy Colman was asked to investigate the ambulance service in June, shortly after the departure of then chief executive Roger Thayne.Auditor General Jeremy Colman was asked to investigate the ambulance service in June, shortly after the departure of then chief executive Roger Thayne.
The service has since returned its worst response time figures since 2003.The service has since returned its worst response time figures since 2003.
The Welsh Ambulance Service has gone through a period of instability, which began in May when chief executive Roger Thayne left, claiming the service was in "crisis" and needed millions of pounds of investment.The Welsh Ambulance Service has gone through a period of instability, which began in May when chief executive Roger Thayne left, claiming the service was in "crisis" and needed millions of pounds of investment.
Give us the tools and we'll do the job Swansea paramedic Huw James I don't think they, the public, appreciate how few ambulances there are on the road at any one time Swansea paramedic Huw James
He resigned after being asked to make savings and warned lives were being lost because of failures.He resigned after being asked to make savings and warned lives were being lost because of failures.
Shortly after his resignation, assembly members voted in favour of holding an inquiry into the service.Shortly after his resignation, assembly members voted in favour of holding an inquiry into the service.
Mr Thayne's successor, Anton van Dellen, then resigned as interim chief executive in July, saying he was unable to commit long-term to the role.Mr Thayne's successor, Anton van Dellen, then resigned as interim chief executive in July, saying he was unable to commit long-term to the role.
Alan Murray was announced as the new permanent chief executive in August, but the service has since returned worsening figures for emergency response times.Alan Murray was announced as the new permanent chief executive in August, but the service has since returned worsening figures for emergency response times.
Alan Murray has been chief executive since AugustAlan Murray has been chief executive since August
Last week, NHS statistics revealed that between July and September, just 54% of ambulances had reached an eight-minute target to respond to the most serious cases.Last week, NHS statistics revealed that between July and September, just 54% of ambulances had reached an eight-minute target to respond to the most serious cases.
The figure was a fall from 57% recorded in the previous quarter and well below the assembly government's 60% target.The figure was a fall from 57% recorded in the previous quarter and well below the assembly government's 60% target.
The auditor general's report, published on Monday, will attempt to provide answers to some of the problems experienced by the ambulance service.The auditor general's report, published on Monday, will attempt to provide answers to some of the problems experienced by the ambulance service.
Paramedic Huw James, based in Swansea, said ambulance crews would "like to know what is going on".
He said: "I don't think they, the public, appreciate how few ambulances there are on the road at any one time.
They (paramedics) are really sick to the back teeth of being looked at a second-class service. Jonathan Morgan AM
"I think a lot of people think they dial 999 and we're parked on the roadway. They don't appreciate we sometimes we've come from out of the area.
"People are anxious because they've got ill family and they want us there, like, yesterday. We turn up and it's a 'where-have-you-been?' scenario."
Conservative health spokesman Jonathan Morgan AM said it was important the ambulance service had "sustained leadership".
He said: "It's not good just having a decent chief executive. We've got a very decent chief executive, I think Alan Murray is a superb individual with a great track record.
"But we need to ensure that the board of the ambulance service, those other directors, are there to support him.
He added that more account needed to be taken of the staff in the ambulance service.
He said: "They are really sick to the back teeth of being looked at a second-class service.
"They don't provide a second-class service, it's just the arrangements and circumstances within which they work. When they get to patients they provide a first-class service and I think we need to recognise that."
Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Jenny Randerson said she hoped the report would be "detailed and in-depth".Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Jenny Randerson said she hoped the report would be "detailed and in-depth".
She said: "That way it will be a good foundation for the modernisation plan which the ambulance trust is putting in place at the moment.She said: "That way it will be a good foundation for the modernisation plan which the ambulance trust is putting in place at the moment.
"You can't be sure that the modernisation plan is tackling the right issues until you've properly identified the problems of the past.
"I think the public have a right to know what's gone wrong and why it's gone wrong."
'More resources'
Dave Galligan from the Unison union said: "I think the one thing we can guarantee is that it will repeat everything we already know about the problems that have happened mot only over the last 12 months but...back a lot longer than that.
He said: "Once we've identified whether there are fault lines that need to be fixed then they need to be built into the modernisation plan.
"It's inevitable there will be some naming, I just don't want to see scapegoating."
Paramedic Huw James, based in Swansea, said ambulance crews would "like to know what is going on".
He added: "We've just got on with something we do every day - we've done the best we can with what we've got.
"I don't think they the public appreciate how few ambulances are on the road at any one time.
"More resources, new vehicles - give us the tools and we'll do the job."