This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-30631210
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Urgent ambulance response times fall | Urgent ambulance response times fall |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The number of ambulances hitting the target response time for the most urgent calls has fallen for the second month running. | The number of ambulances hitting the target response time for the most urgent calls has fallen for the second month running. |
| Only 51% of urgent emergency responses in November arrived at the scene within eight minutes, 14 percentage points lower than the target of 65%. | Only 51% of urgent emergency responses in November arrived at the scene within eight minutes, 14 percentage points lower than the target of 65%. |
| In October, 55.5% arrived within the target time. In November 2013, the figure was 63.2%. | In October, 55.5% arrived within the target time. In November 2013, the figure was 63.2%. |
| The Welsh Ambulance Service said they were working on underlying issues. | The Welsh Ambulance Service said they were working on underlying issues. |
| Figures released on Tuesday showed there were 36,091 calls in November, up by 5% compared to the same month last year, of which 14,061 were Category A or immediately life-threatening. | |
| The ambulance service pointed to the rises in both the total number of calls and the number of those deemed serious and life-threatening. | |
| 'Concern' | |
| Gordon Roberts, interim national head of operations said: "We absolutely recognise that our response times are not where anyone would like them to be. | |
| "We are not complacent about this, and we are working extremely hard to address our underlying issues as a matter of urgency, working closely with our health board commissioners and the Welsh government." | |
| He continued: "Regrettably, there are times when we don't meet the target and we appreciate how much of a concern this is for patients, their families, and the wider public in Wales." | |
| Mr Roberts urged the public not to use the 999 service for non-emergency calls to prevent tying up resources needed elsewhere. |