This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-58640374
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 12 | Version 13 |
---|---|
Covid: Welsh ambulances face unprecedented pressure, minister says | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Army helped drive ambulances for the Welsh trust during the winter Covid wave | The Army helped drive ambulances for the Welsh trust during the winter Covid wave |
The Welsh ambulance service faces pressure like it has never seen before, the country's health minister has said. | |
Eluned Morgan said she was not "ducking" from responsibility for what her opponents say is a crisis. | |
It comes as the service formally requested help from the military to drive its vehicles. | |
One frontline worker told BBC Wales crews are spending whole shifts waiting to off-load patients. | |
Ms Morgan told a Senedd debate calls have increased 20-30% compared to this time last year, that staff were reaching "burnout" and that there was a "blockage" in getting people out of hospitals. | |
The Conservatives, who forced the debate on Wednesday, say ministers should declare an emergency in the service. | |
Demand 'relentless' on the front line | Demand 'relentless' on the front line |
Man dies after 16 hours 999 wait | Man dies after 16 hours 999 wait |
Elderly woman left in wrong house | Elderly woman left in wrong house |
Figures from July showed only 57.8% of the most serious calls, classed as red, were responded to within eight minutes, below the target of 65%. | Figures from July showed only 57.8% of the most serious calls, classed as red, were responded to within eight minutes, below the target of 65%. |
The service received more calls in July than in any month since the pandemic began. | The service received more calls in July than in any month since the pandemic began. |
Welsh Ambulance Services Trust said it has been under "significant and sustained pressure" in recent months, and it wants assistance to help cope with the winter. | |
It is the third time it has requested assistance since the Covid pandemic began - the Ministry of Defence is now considering the request. | |
'Eight hours - that can't be' | |
Stewart Manning was told he would have to wait eight hours for an ambulance | |
Stewart Manning, 59, from Marshfield in Newport, has diabetic gastroparesis, a digestive condition which leads him to become very dehydrated. | |
He said he had experienced a few instances in the past four years where he waited more than three hours for an ambulance. | |
In June he was told an ambulance would not arrive for eight hours, and his wife Corrine drove him to hospital. | |
"That was horrific. Eight hours - that can't be," he said. | |
"It's not the fault of the ambulance crews, it's not the fault of the front line, the coal face, the nurses or anyone else like that. | |
"But there's got to be someone responsible for the way it is structured. The management, the funding even. There are so many different issues relating to this. | |
"There are people out there who are not going to be seen to for a long time… they're going to die." | |
The military has been assisting the ambulance service across the UK | |
In the Senedd debate on Wednesday Ms Morgan said the service was under "unprecedented pressure". | |
"I'm not hiding, I'm not ducking, I am absolutely taking responsibility," she said. | |
"Covid was bad, everybody understood Covid, but everybody in the service at the moment is telling me that this pressure at the moment is worse than anything we've seen." | |
She said 18% of calls are Covid-related, but handover delays to hospital have a "significant impact" . | |
The service has been hit by staff absence, caused by sickness which rose by 10% in June, self-isolation, shielding and delayed annual leave. | |
"We've got to accept the fact that a lot of these people are reaching burnout and they need a break," she said. | |
She said staff were not taking up overtime as much as in the past, and there were difficulties in "timely discharge in patients from hospital", reducing available hospital beds. | |
She did not think it would be appropriate to declare an emergency, as called for by the Conservatives, but accepted "there is a problem here that needs to be resolved". | |
Eluned Morgan said the service faces "unprecedented pressure" | |
Call for trust to be split up | |
Senedd members gave examples of problems faced by constituents with the ambulance service. Welsh Conservative health spokesman Russell George said the service is in "crisis" and has been "for some months". | |
He cited a case where a constituent was asked by the service to take a family member with a suspected heart attack "to hospital themselves". | |
Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru MS for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said he knew of a constituent who had to wait for 15 hours for an ambulance. | |
He said it was a "symptom of a deep seated problem", raising waits to get into hospital and a lack of community beds or a lack of social care. | |
Labour Swansea East MS Mike Hedges said the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust was "not working effectively" and should be "split up" and run by the individual health boards, "so it's their fault, not somebody else's". | |
The Trust covers the whole of Wales, while health boards are regional. | |
Mr Hedges also appeared to criticise previous health ministers from his own party: "Fortunately for the first time since I was elected, we have a health minister who I am confident will address the problems." | |
'Never known it as bad' | |
Paul Amphlett retired as a paramedic six years ago and now works part-time as an emergency medical technician in Brecon, Powys. | Paul Amphlett retired as a paramedic six years ago and now works part-time as an emergency medical technician in Brecon, Powys. |
"I have never known it as bad as it is at the moment, in the sense that morale is at rock bottom," he told BBC Wales. | "I have never known it as bad as it is at the moment, in the sense that morale is at rock bottom," he told BBC Wales. |
"I didn't join the ambulance services to babysit patients outside hospitals for eight, 12 hours." | "I didn't join the ambulance services to babysit patients outside hospitals for eight, 12 hours." |
Paul Amphlett said there is "no let-up" in demand for ambulances | Paul Amphlett said there is "no let-up" in demand for ambulances |
Mr Amphlett, 59, said crews from his patch in Powys were being sent across south Wales because the service is so stretched. | |
"When the pandemic started it went quieter, but in the last 12 months it's gone mental. | "When the pandemic started it went quieter, but in the last 12 months it's gone mental. |
"There's no let-up. It's constant. | "There's no let-up. It's constant. |
"They [patients] can't get hold of GPs. They are ringing 111 and are speaking to people telling them to ring for an ambulance because they can't get a doctor." | "They [patients] can't get hold of GPs. They are ringing 111 and are speaking to people telling them to ring for an ambulance because they can't get a doctor." |
There is concern that a severe flu season this winter, combined with the effects of the pandemic, will put more strain on the NHS. | There is concern that a severe flu season this winter, combined with the effects of the pandemic, will put more strain on the NHS. |
Mr Amphlett said lockdown resulted in fewer patients with flu last winter, but: "If it happens this winter I don't know how they are going to cope." | Mr Amphlett said lockdown resulted in fewer patients with flu last winter, but: "If it happens this winter I don't know how they are going to cope." |
Welsh Ambulance Services Trust declined to respond to Mr Amphlett's comments. | Welsh Ambulance Services Trust declined to respond to Mr Amphlett's comments. |
Third request | Third request |
The military has assisted the NHS throughout the Covid pandemic. | |
The Welsh government said the request, which it has processed on behalf of the trust, asks for "drivers with a C1 driving licence to deal with increased pressures facing the service over the winter". | |
Soldiers helped drive ambulances in Wales on Christmas Eve, at the height of the pandemic's second wave. | Soldiers helped drive ambulances in Wales on Christmas Eve, at the height of the pandemic's second wave. |
Military help for the service was proposed by Welsh Secretary Simon Hart in a letter to the Welsh government sent earlier in September. | Military help for the service was proposed by Welsh Secretary Simon Hart in a letter to the Welsh government sent earlier in September. |
The armed forces have assisted other ambulances services in the UK over recent months. | The armed forces have assisted other ambulances services in the UK over recent months. |
Soldiers will begin driving Scottish ambulances this weekend, while the military was called in to help four trusts in England last month. | Soldiers will begin driving Scottish ambulances this weekend, while the military was called in to help four trusts in England last month. |
A&E waits hit nine-year high | A&E waits hit nine-year high |
Will seeing your doctor ever get back to normal? | Will seeing your doctor ever get back to normal? |
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "The Ministry of Defence has received a request from Welsh government to support the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust under the military aid to civil authorities process. The request is currently under consideration. | |
"We are working hard to identify where we can most effectively provide assistance across the whole of the United Kingdom as we continue to tackle the pandemic." | |
Are you affected by the issues in this story? Please tell us about your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you affected by the issues in this story? Please tell us about your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: |
WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 | WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 |
Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay | Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay |
Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy | Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy |
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. | If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. |
THE LONG WALK HOME: 20,000 miles, 4 years, 1 man | THE LONG WALK HOME: 20,000 miles, 4 years, 1 man |
MOTHERS, MISSILES AND THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT: The story of Greenham told like never before | MOTHERS, MISSILES AND THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT: The story of Greenham told like never before |