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| Covid: Morale on Wales' ambulances 'at rock bottom' | Covid: Morale on Wales' ambulances 'at rock bottom' |
| (32 minutes 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 |
| Welsh ambulance crews are spending whole shifts waiting to off-load patients, according to a front-line worker. | Welsh ambulance crews are spending whole shifts waiting to off-load patients, according to a front-line worker. |
| With the service under increased pressure from the latest Covid wave, Paul Amphlett, a medical technician, said morale was at "rock-bottom". | With the service under increased pressure from the latest Covid wave, Paul Amphlett, a medical technician, said morale was at "rock-bottom". |
| It comes as the Welsh Ambulance Service formally asked for military help. | It comes as the Welsh Ambulance Service formally asked for military help. |
| The Conservatives will call on ministers to declare an emergency in the service in a Senedd debate later. | The Conservatives will call on ministers to declare an emergency in the service in a Senedd debate later. |
| Welsh Ambulance Services Trust said it has been under "significant and sustained pressure" in recent months, and is starting to return to some of the arrangements it had at the height of the pandemic. | Welsh Ambulance Services Trust said it has been under "significant and sustained pressure" in recent months, and is starting to return to some of the arrangements it had at the height of the pandemic. |
| The Welsh government confirmed it had received a formal request from the Welsh Ambulance Trust for the support of the armed forces. | The Welsh government confirmed it had received a formal request from the Welsh Ambulance Trust for the support of the armed forces. |
| Demand 'relentless' on the frontline | |
| Man dies after 16 hours 999 wait | |
| 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 June than in any month since the pandemic began. | The service received more calls in June than in any month since the pandemic began. |
| 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 Health Minister Eluned Morgan was wrong when she told the Senedd last week that the service was under "real pressure" but said she would not describe it as a crisis. | Mr Amphlett, 59, said Health Minister Eluned Morgan was wrong when she told the Senedd last week that the service was under "real pressure" but said she would not describe it as a crisis. |
| "It is a crisis," Mr Amphlett said, adding that a recent increase in demand was "appalling". | "It is a crisis," Mr Amphlett said, adding that a recent increase in demand was "appalling". |
| He said crews from his patch in Powys were being sent across south Wales because the service is so stretched. | He 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. |
| The military has been assisting the ambulance service across the UK | The military has been assisting the ambulance service across the UK |
| On Wednesday, the Welsh Conservatives will call a debate demanding that the Welsh government declares an emergency in the service. | On Wednesday, the Welsh Conservatives will call a debate demanding that the Welsh government declares an emergency in the service. |
| The party said it wanted a "comprehensive plan to improve response times", increased bed capacity and to boost access face-to-face primary care appointments. | The party said it wanted a "comprehensive plan to improve response times", increased bed capacity and to boost access face-to-face primary care appointments. |
| Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies said: "Drafting in the Army will give our ambulance staff the help they need during these challenging times, but it is a shame this Labour-led Welsh government didn't get the ball rolling sooner." | Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies said: "Drafting in the Army will give our ambulance staff the help they need during these challenging times, but it is a shame this Labour-led Welsh government didn't get the ball rolling sooner." |
| Third request | Third request |
| The military has assisted the NHS throughout the Covid pandemic and if the trust's request, made through the Welsh government, is approved it is the third time the military will have helped the service. | The military has assisted the NHS throughout the Covid pandemic and if the trust's request, made through the Welsh government, is approved it is the third time the military will have helped the service. |
| First Minister Mark Drakeford told the Senedd on Tuesday that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had approved most of the applications during the pandemic, but not all. | First Minister Mark Drakeford told the Senedd on Tuesday that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had approved most of the applications during the pandemic, but not all. |
| He said the Welsh government would ensure "we make the best possible application". | He said the Welsh government would ensure "we make the best possible application". |
| Welsh Secretary Simon Hart had proposed military help in a letter to the Welsh government sent earlier in September. | Welsh Secretary Simon Hart had proposed military help in a letter to the Welsh government sent earlier in September. |
| More than 200 soldiers have helped drive and decontaminate ambulances, including 90 which were enlisted on Christmas Eve, at the height of the pandemic's second wave. | More than 200 soldiers have helped drive and decontaminate ambulances, including 90 which were enlisted on Christmas Eve, at the height of the pandemic's second wave. |
| Similar requests have been made in Scotland and in parts of England. | Similar requests have been made in Scotland and in parts of England. |
| A&E waits hit nine-year high | |
| Will seeing your doctor ever get back to normal? | |
| A spokesperson for Joint Military Command Wales said: "Defence remains ready to offer support to civil authorities in the UK and we will work with the Welsh government and the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust to understand their requirements and offer assistance where appropriate." | A spokesperson for Joint Military Command Wales said: "Defence remains ready to offer support to civil authorities in the UK and we will work with the Welsh government and the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust to understand their requirements and offer assistance where appropriate." |
| Mr Drakeford said his government will now send the request to the MoD. | Mr Drakeford said his government will now send the request to the MoD. |
| Speaking at First Minister's Questions, Mr Drakeford said the application for assistance from the ambulance service "first of all comes to the Welsh government, that application has now been received". | Speaking at First Minister's Questions, Mr Drakeford said the application for assistance from the ambulance service "first of all comes to the Welsh government, that application has now been received". |
| If the Welsh government endorses that request, it will then be sent on to the MoD to decide whether to approve the provision of military support for the ambulance service. | If the Welsh government endorses that request, it will then be sent on to the MoD to decide whether to approve the provision of military support for the ambulance service. |
| Mr Drakeford said: "That will be the stage we will be at next - making sure that we make the best possible application to the Ministry of Defence and hoping that they will be able to offer us the help they have offered us in very large measure during the course of the pandemic." | Mr Drakeford said: "That will be the stage we will be at next - making sure that we make the best possible application to the Ministry of Defence and hoping that they will be able to offer us the help they have offered us in very large measure during the course of the pandemic." |
| The Welsh government said: "The ambulance service is facing increased pressure as a result of the pandemic and as we enter what will be a difficult winter period. | The Welsh government said: "The ambulance service is facing increased pressure as a result of the pandemic and as we enter what will be a difficult winter period. |
| "We would urge people to consider how to get the care they need. The NHS 111 Wales website is the quickest way to access healthcare advice if you are unwell, and it includes a symptom checker, information about local healthcare services such as pharmacies, and self-care advice." | "We would urge people to consider how to get the care they need. The NHS 111 Wales website is the quickest way to access healthcare advice if you are unwell, and it includes a symptom checker, information about local healthcare services such as pharmacies, and self-care advice." |
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| 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 |