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Ambulances still waiting at A&E Ambulances still waiting at A&E
(39 minutes 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 A&E departments.
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. Wales's biggest hospital blamed bed blocking and people needlessly turning up at casualty.
In February there were delays at two hospitals due to a high volume of 999 calls and a shortage of beds.
The University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, said 160 of its beds were unavailable due to bed blocking.
We know that more than 30% of people who come to our emergency unit could be treated by their GP or pharmacist Hugh Ross, chief executive of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust
In a statement, it said a third of emergency patients could be treated by a GP or pharmacist.
Hugh Ross, chief executive of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "Our emergency unit has been under greater pressure this summer than in previous years.
"This has meant more patients have experienced delays, and the trust regrets that this has been the case.
"We know that more than 30% of people who come to our emergency unit could be treated by their GP or pharmacist, based on Welsh Assembly Government surveys."
He said 160 beds were unavailable because of delayed transfers of care - or bed blocking - and the length of these delays was "greater than in the past".
The ambulance trust said it was addressing the issue with accident and emergency departments 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 spokespersonThe 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 A&E, 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 so resources were kept for the most seriously ill.
"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," 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 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 chief Alan Murray said he had helped restore some pride and credibility after one year in the job.