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Most ambulance response time targets to be scrapped | Most 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. |
In a one-year trial from October, performance for less urgent incidents will be assessed by clinical outcomes - the results of the treatment delivered. | 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 life-threatening calls within eight minutes will be reviewed. | The target of responding to 65% of life-threatening calls within eight minutes will be reviewed. |
Statistics released on Wednesday showed the service missed its target for responding to emergency calls in June. | Statistics released on Wednesday showed the service missed its target for responding to emergency calls in June. |
An ambulance arrived on the scene within eight minutes for 61.4% of "red" emergency calls. | |
That is an improvement on the previous month and better than the same time last year. | 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. | The service has also announced that fewer calls will be classed as "red", which need an eight-minute response. |
The Welsh Conservatives described the latest statistics as "another month of failed Labour-managed ambulance response times". | The Welsh Conservatives described the latest statistics as "another month of failed Labour-managed ambulance response times". |
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar, said: "Wales has amongst the worst response times in Britain and the most urgent target has now been missed for 20 consecutive months. | Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar, said: "Wales has amongst the worst response times in Britain and the most urgent target has now been missed for 20 consecutive months. |
"It is Labour's mismanagement of our NHS that's led to this shameful failure in performance and only a change at the top will put that right." | "It is Labour's mismanagement of our NHS that's led to this shameful failure in performance and only a change at the top will put that right." |
The new model will introduce three categories of calls - red, amber and green. | The new model will introduce three categories of calls - red, amber and green. |
Red | Red |
Amber | Amber |
Green | Green |
Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething said he was "confident" the changes will improve patient experience. | |
He said: "The demands placed on our emergency ambulance service are more complex than ever before and are growing year-on-year. | |
"It is clear if we are to meet these demands and ensure the best outcomes for patients, we need to transform the way in which we deliver emergency ambulance services." | |
Tracy Myhill, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, added: "Having a fast ambulance arrive at a patient's door does not necessarily translate to a better outcome. | |
"However, having the right type of vehicle arrive at a patient's door and timely transport to a treatment centre does." | |
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. |