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| Ambulance waiting at hospitals exceeds six years, BBC Wales finds | Ambulance waiting at hospitals exceeds six years, BBC Wales finds |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ambulances have spent almost 55,000 hours waiting outside Welsh hospitals in six months, according to figures obtained by BBC Wales. | Ambulances have spent almost 55,000 hours waiting outside Welsh hospitals in six months, according to figures obtained by BBC Wales. |
| The ambulance service said there has been a "high increase" in delays in admitting patients due to significant pressure on the NHS. | The ambulance service said there has been a "high increase" in delays in admitting patients due to significant pressure on the NHS. |
| This means in total ambulance crews have spent 2,269 days - equivalent to over 6 years - waiting to transfer patients to hospital departments during that period. | This means in total ambulance crews have spent 2,269 days - equivalent to over 6 years - waiting to transfer patients to hospital departments during that period. |
| Opposition parties have called on the Welsh government to act to resolve the "potentially dangerous" situation, with one wait lasting more than five hours. | Opposition parties have called on the Welsh government to act to resolve the "potentially dangerous" situation, with one wait lasting more than five hours. |
| They said patients could be put at risk because emergency cover could be compromised elsewhere while ambulances are tied up waiting for patients to be admitted. | They said patients could be put at risk because emergency cover could be compromised elsewhere while ambulances are tied up waiting for patients to be admitted. |
| In response, the Welsh government described delays as unacceptable but insisted most patients who needed to be treated quickly waited no longer than 30 minutes. | In response, the Welsh government described delays as unacceptable but insisted most patients who needed to be treated quickly waited no longer than 30 minutes. |
| The figures obtained by BBC Wales via a Freedom of Information request also show that on 24,346 occasions in the six months to the end of February ambulances had to wait more than 30 minutes before patients could be admitted to hospitals. | The figures obtained by BBC Wales via a Freedom of Information request also show that on 24,346 occasions in the six months to the end of February ambulances had to wait more than 30 minutes before patients could be admitted to hospitals. |
| Under Welsh Ambulance Service handover targets, emergency vehicles are supposed to spend no longer than 15 minutes transferring patients, | Under Welsh Ambulance Service handover targets, emergency vehicles are supposed to spend no longer than 15 minutes transferring patients, |
| The longest single wait at a hospital during the period was five hours and 39 minutes. | The longest single wait at a hospital during the period was five hours and 39 minutes. |
| The Welsh Ambulance Service Trust's latest performance report shows it only achieved 56.9% of patient handovers within 15 minutes, against the national target of 95% | The Welsh Ambulance Service Trust's latest performance report shows it only achieved 56.9% of patient handovers within 15 minutes, against the national target of 95% |
| The ambulance service has previously calculated it faced a cost of £76 for each "lost" hour an ambulance spends outside hospital. On that basis the recent delays could have cost the service more than £4m. | The ambulance service has previously calculated it faced a cost of £76 for each "lost" hour an ambulance spends outside hospital. On that basis the recent delays could have cost the service more than £4m. |
| It said while the needs of the sickest patients were given priority, it was working hard to make sure that all patients get the care they needed while waiting to be admitted. | It said while the needs of the sickest patients were given priority, it was working hard to make sure that all patients get the care they needed while waiting to be admitted. |
| A spokesperson for the ambulance service said it was working hard with all health boards where there were handover delays. | A spokesperson for the ambulance service said it was working hard with all health boards where there were handover delays. |
| 'Meltdown' warning | 'Meltdown' warning |
| There have been many reports of ambulances queuing up outside Welsh hospitals in recent weeks. | There have been many reports of ambulances queuing up outside Welsh hospitals in recent weeks. |
| Last month the Welsh government urged people to think before dialling 999, as A&E departments across the country faced "unprecedented" demand. | Last month the Welsh government urged people to think before dialling 999, as A&E departments across the country faced "unprecedented" demand. |
| Earlier this month, a group of A&E consultants wrote to Health Minister Mark Drakeford warning A&E departments were "at the point of meltdown" due to overcrowding and a beds shortage. | Earlier this month, a group of A&E consultants wrote to Health Minister Mark Drakeford warning A&E departments were "at the point of meltdown" due to overcrowding and a beds shortage. |
| Mr Drakeford said dealing with pressures in A&E will be a priority in the coming year. | Mr Drakeford said dealing with pressures in A&E will be a priority in the coming year. |
| Meanwhile, a wide-ranging review into the ambulance service's performance and structure, commissioned by the Welsh government, is due to submitted soon. | |
| A Welsh government spokesperson said: "Lengthy patient handover delays are unacceptable and we expect all health boards to work with the ambulance service to keep delays to a minimum and continue to provide effective care throughout any delay, while the patient awaits handover. | A Welsh government spokesperson said: "Lengthy patient handover delays are unacceptable and we expect all health boards to work with the ambulance service to keep delays to a minimum and continue to provide effective care throughout any delay, while the patient awaits handover. |
| "It is important to note that this is an international and UK-wide problem and the majority of patients in Wales who have a clinical need to be handed over to the care of A&E staff quickly are handed over within thirty minutes. | "It is important to note that this is an international and UK-wide problem and the majority of patients in Wales who have a clinical need to be handed over to the care of A&E staff quickly are handed over within thirty minutes. |
| "Unfortunately there are occasions when there is a delay in handing over the patient to hospital staff." | "Unfortunately there are occasions when there is a delay in handing over the patient to hospital staff." |