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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Ambulances still waiting at A&E | Ambulances still waiting at A&E |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Patients are regularly waiting more than 50 minutes in ambulances outside south east Wales accident and emergency departments, BBC Wales has revealed. | Patients are regularly waiting more than 50 minutes in ambulances outside south east Wales accident and emergency departments, BBC Wales has revealed. |
| In February, there were delays at two hospitals because of a high volume of 999 calls and a shortage of beds. | In February, there were delays at two hospitals because of a high volume of 999 calls and a shortage of beds. |
| Over the last three months an average 106 vehicles a week have waited more than 50 minutes to deliver patients, the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed. | Over the last three months an average 106 vehicles a week have waited more than 50 minutes to deliver patients, the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed. |
| The trust said it was addressing the issue with A&Es as a matter of urgency. | The trust said it was addressing the issue with A&Es as a matter of urgency. |
| The summer months are traditionally a quiet time but the ambulance service said it has been encountering problems at major district hospitals. | The summer months are traditionally a quiet time but the ambulance service said it has been encountering problems at major district hospitals. |
| The issue is of great concern to the service and we are, as a matter of urgency, addressing the situation with the hospitals Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson | The issue is of great concern to the service and we are, as a matter of urgency, addressing the situation with the hospitals Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson |
| However, a spokesman said that figures had improved this week to an average of 85 ambulances waiting at hospitals for more than 50 minutes. | However, a spokesman said that figures had improved this week to an average of 85 ambulances waiting at hospitals for more than 50 minutes. |
| Mike Cassidy, director of ambulance services in Wales, said how often and how long ambulances were having to wait varied. | Mike Cassidy, director of ambulance services in Wales, said how often and how long ambulances were having to wait varied. |
| But, he added: "We've experienced some difficulties, maybe one or two days every couple of weeks just when the system overheats a bit and when demand is extremely high for us." | But, he added: "We've experienced some difficulties, maybe one or two days every couple of weeks just when the system overheats a bit and when demand is extremely high for us." |
| He said that since February most serious patients had been admitted immediately while some less serious cases waited three to four hours "on occasions". | He said that since February most serious patients had been admitted immediately while some less serious cases waited three to four hours "on occasions". |
| Measures had been put in place to help ease pressure on accident and emergency departments, such as employing GPs in ambulance service control centres. | Measures had been put in place to help ease pressure on accident and emergency departments, such as employing GPs in ambulance service control centres. |
| Mr Cassidy added that it was important to make the public aware of the alternatives to calling an ambulance, he said, to ensure resources were kept for the most seriously ill patients. | Mr Cassidy added that it was important to make the public aware of the alternatives to calling an ambulance, he said, to ensure resources were kept for the most seriously ill patients. |
| "There is a tendency often to call an ambulance when indeed another form of care within the community would be more appropriate," he said. | "There is a tendency often to call an ambulance when indeed another form of care within the community would be more appropriate," he said. |
| "I think quite often people call ambulances because they don't really know what the alternatives are, and I think it's about us trying to get information to the public to let them know what alternatives are available, for example, general practice and NHS Direct Wales." | |
| 'Great concern' | 'Great concern' |
| A spokesman for the ambulance trust said it was working with hospitals to find ways of easing the pressure on accident and emergency departments. | A spokesman for the ambulance trust said it was working with hospitals to find ways of easing the pressure on accident and emergency departments. |
| "The issue is of great concern to the service and we are, as a matter of urgency, addressing the situation with the hospitals at the highest levels, whilst working with hospital staff to find satisfactory solutions to the problems," he said. | "The issue is of great concern to the service and we are, as a matter of urgency, addressing the situation with the hospitals at the highest levels, whilst working with hospital staff to find satisfactory solutions to the problems," he said. |
| The ambulance service experienced a crisis in 2006 which saw several bosses quit. | The ambulance service experienced a crisis in 2006 which saw several bosses quit. |
| It had failed to meet response time targets and was branded "appalling" and "unacceptable" in a report by a committee of AMs in March this year. | It had failed to meet response time targets and was branded "appalling" and "unacceptable" in a report by a committee of AMs in March this year. |
| But in May, it claimed its performance was the best in its history, after hitting response targets for the second month running. | But in May, it claimed its performance was the best in its history, after hitting response targets for the second month running. |
| Just last month, its head Alan Murray said he had helped restore some pride and credibility after one year in the job. | Just last month, its head Alan Murray said he had helped restore some pride and credibility after one year in the job. |