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Wales Ambulance Service: 'Big changes needed,' review says | Wales Ambulance Service: 'Big changes needed,' review says |
(35 minutes later) | |
Major changes are needed in the running of the Welsh Ambulance Service, according to a review commissioned by the Welsh government. | |
The review also calls for paramedics to be given more training to make decisions about patient care and calls for a revamp of performance targets. | The review also calls for paramedics to be given more training to make decisions about patient care and calls for a revamp of performance targets. |
The service failed to meet targets for life-threatening call responses in every local authority area last month. | The service failed to meet targets for life-threatening call responses in every local authority area last month. |
The ambulance service said it had faced extra pressures with adverse weather. | The ambulance service said it had faced extra pressures with adverse weather. |
All-Wales figures for March show 53.3% of emergency responses arrived within eight minutes. The Welsh Ambulance Service target was 65%. | All-Wales figures for March show 53.3% of emergency responses arrived within eight minutes. The Welsh Ambulance Service target was 65%. |
The review ordered by the former Health Minister Lesley Griffiths last year calls for a new "clear vision" for the ambulance service and big changes in the way it works. | The review ordered by the former Health Minister Lesley Griffiths last year calls for a new "clear vision" for the ambulance service and big changes in the way it works. |
'Lacking in clarity' | 'Lacking in clarity' |
It says the ambulance service should concentrate on emergency patients, leaving routine transfers to hospitals as the responsibility of local health boards. | It says the ambulance service should concentrate on emergency patients, leaving routine transfers to hospitals as the responsibility of local health boards. |
Led by health academic Prof Siobhan McClelland, the review also found a "fundamental problem" with accountability and governance arrangements of the ambulance service which it describes as "complex and lacking in clarity". | Led by health academic Prof Siobhan McClelland, the review also found a "fundamental problem" with accountability and governance arrangements of the ambulance service which it describes as "complex and lacking in clarity". |
It proposes three models to way the ambulance service could be run in the future. | It proposes three models to way the ambulance service could be run in the future. |
One option would be to run the ambulance service as a separate health board directly funded by the Welsh government with the same budget, performance and accountability. | One option would be to run the ambulance service as a separate health board directly funded by the Welsh government with the same budget, performance and accountability. |
A second option would see ambulance services commissioned directly by health boards but with clearer aims and procedures. | A second option would see ambulance services commissioned directly by health boards but with clearer aims and procedures. |
A third option would see individual health boards taking charge of the ambulance service in its area which would see its dissolution as an all-Wales service. | A third option would see individual health boards taking charge of the ambulance service in its area which would see its dissolution as an all-Wales service. |
'Empty words' | |
The review says each option has advantages and disadvantages but the third option could be legally fraught and would neither be "quick or straight forward to implement". | The review says each option has advantages and disadvantages but the third option could be legally fraught and would neither be "quick or straight forward to implement". |
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams said it was important to "see action" from the Welsh government. | |
She said: "This is the ninth review we have seen into the ambulance service in Wales in the last six years. | |
"Let us hope this is the last review because what we need now is action not more empty words and futile strategies." | |
Plaid Cymru health spokesman Elin Jones welcomed some of the findings. | |
She said: "Some recommendations are really useful, such as the recommendation to give more resources to enable the training of paramedics and a more workable relationship between [local health boards] and the ambulance service." |