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| Ambulances still waiting at A&E | Ambulances still waiting at A&E |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Patients are regularly waiting more than 50 minutes in ambulances outside south east Wales A&E departments. | Patients are regularly waiting more than 50 minutes in ambulances outside south east Wales A&E departments. |
| 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. |
| Wales's biggest hospital blamed bed blocking and people needlessly turning up at casualty. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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". | 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 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 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 A&E, 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 so resources were kept for the most seriously ill. | 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. |
| "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," he said. |
| '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 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 chief 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. |
Have you been affected by ambulance queues at accident and emergency? Were you, or a member of your family left waiting in an ambulance for hours because there was no room in the hospital? | Have you been affected by ambulance queues at accident and emergency? Were you, or a member of your family left waiting in an ambulance for hours because there was no room in the hospital? |
| Send us your comments. | Send us your comments. |
| I experienced a delay at A&E Morriston Hospital in February this year when my daughter was rushed by ambulance following a horrific injury to her face. I waited with an embarrassed ambulance crew for almost 45 minutes before care was handed over to the Hospital. Other ambulance crews (4) were also waiting to hand over care. It is a disgrace and money is being wasted tying up paramedics who may be needed to attend other life or death incidents. I complained to the then Health Minister Brian Gibbons only to be told that it was an operational matter for the Hospital concerned and the Welsh Ambulance Trust. What they need in these hospitals is the staff to be able to take over the care of patients to release the Ambulance staff. That cannot be too hard to sort out can it?DAVID JONES, NEATH | I experienced a delay at A&E Morriston Hospital in February this year when my daughter was rushed by ambulance following a horrific injury to her face. I waited with an embarrassed ambulance crew for almost 45 minutes before care was handed over to the Hospital. Other ambulance crews (4) were also waiting to hand over care. It is a disgrace and money is being wasted tying up paramedics who may be needed to attend other life or death incidents. I complained to the then Health Minister Brian Gibbons only to be told that it was an operational matter for the Hospital concerned and the Welsh Ambulance Trust. What they need in these hospitals is the staff to be able to take over the care of patients to release the Ambulance staff. That cannot be too hard to sort out can it?DAVID JONES, NEATH |
| My girlfeirnd was taken to Morriston Hospital a month ago with severe abdominal pains and she was forced to wait 3 hours for an ambulance to transfer her to Singleton Hospital for a scan on our unborn child. To me this is simply not acceptable as it makes me wonder what our taxes get spent on!!!Mark, Ystradgynlais | My girlfeirnd was taken to Morriston Hospital a month ago with severe abdominal pains and she was forced to wait 3 hours for an ambulance to transfer her to Singleton Hospital for a scan on our unborn child. To me this is simply not acceptable as it makes me wonder what our taxes get spent on!!!Mark, Ystradgynlais |
| This is just another example of how our Ambulance Service in Wales is still failing, even after the arrival of Mr Murray. Fast Response times mean absolutely nothing if the patient can't get into a place of treatment.J.Evans, North Wales | This is just another example of how our Ambulance Service in Wales is still failing, even after the arrival of Mr Murray. Fast Response times mean absolutely nothing if the patient can't get into a place of treatment.J.Evans, North Wales |
| In a statement, it said a third of emergency patients could be treated by a GP or pharmacist. Then why not turn them away. People will learn. As usual this country is bending over backwards to please everyone where we need to prioritise and act on common sense!Daniel Kynes-Hughes, Birmingham, UK | |
| We experienced the same thing in May this year with my father. Llandough hospital was so busy patients couldn't be offloaded from the ambulances as there was no-where to put them in A&E - The situation is intolerable and the hospital staff would be the first to agree. Something urgently needs to be done about this unacceptable matter.Rob Wheaton, Cardiff | We experienced the same thing in May this year with my father. Llandough hospital was so busy patients couldn't be offloaded from the ambulances as there was no-where to put them in A&E - The situation is intolerable and the hospital staff would be the first to agree. Something urgently needs to be done about this unacceptable matter.Rob Wheaton, Cardiff |
| About people 'needlessly turning up at casualty'. A few months ago I cut my hand on some glass. Nothing dramatic but deep enough for me to have problems in stopping the bleeding. So I went to my local GP and hoped the nurse would look at it for me. They refused, because I'd cut myself on glass, and sent me off to the casualty in Carmarthen. There I waited for an hour and the staff quickly treated and dressed the wound. Now why couldn't a trained nurse in a surgery do that? Can anyone explain?Richard Crookston, Pencader, Carmerthenshire, Wales | |
| The problem is not a simple one. It would not make any difference whether you doubled the number of staff in the A&E departments or had twice the number of ambulances available. As Hugh Ross continues to say the beds are blocked. Until the Assembly Government sort out the problems of getting social care packages financed this will continue to be the case. They know what the problem is but because the sums of money involved are huge they chose to let the situation continue and blame the trusts and the ambulance service.Chris Gill, Cardiff Wales |