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Ambulance response time targets to be scrapped Ambulance response time targets to be scrapped
(35 minutes later)
Targets for ambulance response times in Wales are to be dropped for all but the most life-threatening calls.Targets for ambulance response times in Wales are to be dropped for all but the most life-threatening calls.
For less urgent incidents, the results of the treatment delivered - clinical outcomes - will be the new basis for assessing performance. In a one-year trial from October, performance for less urgent incidents will be assessed by clinical outcomes - the results of the treatment delivered.
The target of responding to 65% of Category A life-threatening calls within eight minutes - last met in October 2013 - will be reviewed. The target of responding to 65% of life-threatening calls within eight minutes will be reviewed.
Fewer calls will be classed as "red" and needing an eight minute response. Statistics released on Wednesday showed the service missed its target for responding to emergency calls in June.
The service has been under pressure for repeatedly missing time-based targets. An ambulance arrived on the scene within eight minutes for 61.4% of emergency calls.
That is an improvement on the previous month and better than the same time last year.
The service has also announced that fewer calls will be classed as "red", which need an eight-minute response.
In March 2014, Health Minister Mark Drakeford announced a trial to develop more "meaningful" targets for ambulance and A&E services, based more on the quality of care than response and waiting times.In March 2014, Health Minister Mark Drakeford announced a trial to develop more "meaningful" targets for ambulance and A&E services, based more on the quality of care than response and waiting times.
Speaking at the time, he said: "I want us to judge the success of our services by measuring things which make a difference to patients and the effectiveness of the treatment they receive."Speaking at the time, he said: "I want us to judge the success of our services by measuring things which make a difference to patients and the effectiveness of the treatment they receive."
Officials have urged people only to call an ambulance if they really need one, in order to reduce pressure on the service. Officials have urged people only to call an ambulance if they really need one in order to reduce pressure on the service.
Those with less serious conditions have been encouraged to use alternative transport such as taxis to take them to hospital in a pilot scheme.Those with less serious conditions have been encouraged to use alternative transport such as taxis to take them to hospital in a pilot scheme.
In England, ambulance services have a more ambitious target of responding to 75% of Category A calls within eight minutes.In England, ambulance services have a more ambitious target of responding to 75% of Category A calls within eight minutes.
The target was met for England as a whole in 2013-14 for the most serious of those calls - Red 1 - but was just missed for less serious Red 2 calls.The target was met for England as a whole in 2013-14 for the most serious of those calls - Red 1 - but was just missed for less serious Red 2 calls.
A row broke out in December when a leaked document suggested changing the target for some Red 2 calls in England from eight to 19 minutes.A row broke out in December when a leaked document suggested changing the target for some Red 2 calls in England from eight to 19 minutes.