Ambulance Response Times in North Wales Continue to Exceed Targets

The number of ambulances responding to immediately life-threatening calls in Wales within the eight minute target has risen again for the third month. 

Data published by the Welsh Government this week shows that during a total of 78.1% of immediately life-threatening calls made to the Welsh Ambulance Service were attended within the eight minute response time target.

During August there were 38,599 emergency calls – an average of 1,245 per day. This was 2.5% down on the daily average of calls for July 2016.

August’s figures are also up on July’s response time figures, which were 75.3%.

The 65% response time target of eight minutes was hit by all seven health boards in Wales.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said: “Patients with the most life-threatening conditions are continuing to receive a rapid emergency response and I want to thank Welsh Ambulance staff for their dedication and hard work.

“Their efforts are helping to ensure their communities receive a safe and timely service. The new system which we introduced last October, is working well and prioritising the most urgent calls.”

In North Wales the number of immediately life-threatening calls attended within eight minutes exceeded the Wales average, with Betsi Cadwaladr University Healh Board (BCUHB) attending 79.2% of category red calls.

This was the third highest response time by a health board in Wales.

Overall throughout August BCUHB received a total of 10,088 call. Of these calls 383 were classed as category red calls.

A further 6,100 calls were categorised as amber and 3,595 as green.

Of the 383 red calls, 380 incidents were attended by emergency response. 301 of the calls had emergency response at the scene within eight minutes.

Speaking about August’s figures, Richard Lee, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Director of Operations said: “We are really pleased with the sustained level of performance that we have been able to provide to patients across Wales, exceeding our important eight minute target for those facing life-threatening emergencies for the eleventh month a row.

“It is also encouraging to note that this has been achieved in every health board area for the third month in succession.

“Our staff work tirelessly to care for patients across the country and the improvements in performance we have experienced since introducing our new clinical response model last October would not have been possible without their dedication.

“This month the Welsh Government has shown its faith in the model and the progress we are making by extending the pilot for a further six months.

“This will allow us to continue to build on the progress we have made as we go into the winter period.”