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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Time targets scrapped for most ambulance calls | Time targets scrapped for most ambulance calls |
| (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 very urgent calls within eight minutes will remain in place but be monitored. | The target of responding to 65% of very urgent calls within eight minutes will remain in place but be monitored. |
| 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. | 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." |
| Plaid Cymru described the trial as a "dangerous experiment" and said the service was "moving the goalposts instead of dealing with the issue". | Plaid Cymru described the trial as a "dangerous experiment" and said the service was "moving the goalposts instead of dealing with the issue". |
| Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Kirsty Williams said targets should be about "patient outcome, not political convenience". | Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Kirsty Williams said targets should be about "patient outcome, not political convenience". |
| She added: "Of course, it is politically convenient for the Welsh Labour government to scrap targets that they've been incapable of meeting, especially with an election just around the corner." | She added: "Of course, it is politically convenient for the Welsh Labour government to scrap targets that they've been incapable of meeting, especially with an election just around the corner." |
| The Welsh NHS Confederation described the changes as "innovative" and "patient-focused". | |
| 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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." | "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. |