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Welsh Ambulance Service target failure blamed on summer pressures | Welsh Ambulance Service target failure blamed on summer pressures |
(35 minutes later) | |
"Unprecedented" summer pressure has been blamed for the Welsh Ambulance Service failing to hit its emergency response time target. | "Unprecedented" summer pressure has been blamed for the Welsh Ambulance Service failing to hit its emergency response time target. |
The service was called more than 35,800 times in July, with over 14,300 category A life-threatening calls. | |
Latest figures show that 64.1% of responses to category A call-outs arrived within eight minutes, just below a 65% target. | Latest figures show that 64.1% of responses to category A call-outs arrived within eight minutes, just below a 65% target. |
The Welsh government said the pressure had put a strain on services and staff. | The Welsh government said the pressure had put a strain on services and staff. |
Earlier this month, the ambulance service warned about "inappropriate" 999 calls, ranging from men with hangovers to a woman bitten on her finger by a hamster. | Earlier this month, the ambulance service warned about "inappropriate" 999 calls, ranging from men with hangovers to a woman bitten on her finger by a hamster. |
Performance has improved in local authority areas, with 16 out of 22 now above the 60% target set for each county, up from 14 in June. | Performance has improved in local authority areas, with 16 out of 22 now above the 60% target set for each county, up from 14 in June. |
But the picture is varied. The worst performing county was Anglesey where 54% of responses to category A calls arrived within eight minutes. | But the picture is varied. The worst performing county was Anglesey where 54% of responses to category A calls arrived within eight minutes. |
The best performing area was Cardiff with 71.7%, while more than 70% of ambulances in Conwy and Swansea also arrived within eight minutes. | The best performing area was Cardiff with 71.7%, while more than 70% of ambulances in Conwy and Swansea also arrived within eight minutes. |
The service met the target for eight months of last year but started dipping below the target early in 2012 before recovering in the spring. | The service met the target for eight months of last year but started dipping below the target early in 2012 before recovering in the spring. |
The failure by ambulances to hit the 65% performance target for July has been criticised by the Welsh Conservatives. | The failure by ambulances to hit the 65% performance target for July has been criticised by the Welsh Conservatives. |
Conservative health spokesman Darren Millar AM said: "This is more proof that Labour's record-breaking cuts to the health budget are putting immense strain on resources. | Conservative health spokesman Darren Millar AM said: "This is more proof that Labour's record-breaking cuts to the health budget are putting immense strain on resources. |
"While our summer may have been wet, there has been no winter ice or snow to heap pressure on response times. | "While our summer may have been wet, there has been no winter ice or snow to heap pressure on response times. |
"The truth is that - despite the hard work of staff - bed blocking and long waits outside hospitals remain stubbornly high. | "The truth is that - despite the hard work of staff - bed blocking and long waits outside hospitals remain stubbornly high. |
'Hangovers' | 'Hangovers' |
"The minister's commitment to hospital downgrades and axing beds across Wales will force many patients to travel further for life-saving care and only stands to make things worse." | "The minister's commitment to hospital downgrades and axing beds across Wales will force many patients to travel further for life-saving care and only stands to make things worse." |
But the Welsh government said it had been an usually busy summer. | But the Welsh government said it had been an usually busy summer. |
A spokesman said: "The Welsh Ambulance Service has experienced a period of unprecedented pressure this summer, putting a strain on services and staff. | A spokesman said: "The Welsh Ambulance Service has experienced a period of unprecedented pressure this summer, putting a strain on services and staff. |
"In recognition of this unusually busy summer, in July the health minister announced an extra £10m for unscheduled care to put in place improvements which we expect to see in the coming months." | "In recognition of this unusually busy summer, in July the health minister announced an extra £10m for unscheduled care to put in place improvements which we expect to see in the coming months." |
He added: "It was also reported in July that inappropriate 999 calls were on the increase, with people calling ambulances for trivial reasons such as hangovers and hamster bites. | He added: "It was also reported in July that inappropriate 999 calls were on the increase, with people calling ambulances for trivial reasons such as hangovers and hamster bites. |
"Clearly, if people expect the ambulance service to meet its targets, they must also use it appropriately and only in the case of a serious medical emergency." | "Clearly, if people expect the ambulance service to meet its targets, they must also use it appropriately and only in the case of a serious medical emergency." |
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