The Welsh Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Peter Black has called for urgent action by the Health Minister following the publication of the monthly response times for the Ambulance Service in Wales that shows a continuing deterioration in the service.
For the fourth month running, the response time for Ambulances arriving at a scene within the target eight minutes, has fallen from 60.9% in September to 57.1% in November to 47.6% in December. The All-Wales target is currently set at 65%.
Peter Black said: “This continuing failure of the Ambulance Service to reach its 65% target of arriving at a scene within eight minutes is a matter of huge concern. I understand that there were factors that impacted on these figures such as a flu epidemic and a novovirus outbreak in North Wales but nevertheless the Minister needs to start getting to grips with this issue.
“My concern is that the best efforts of a hard-working and dedicated staff are being foiled by factors outside their control. In particular there continue to be huge bottlenecks around Accident and Emergency departments which are holding up ambulances and preventing them responding to other calls.
“In addition much needed investment in the ambulance service has stalled with the Assembly Government. A bid put into WAG in January 2008 for £5 million to be spent on ambulance fleets has not yet been approved, over a year later. Another bid of £35 million submitted in May 2008 is also awaiting approval. We cannot expect the ambulance service to improve when they are operating with one hand tied behind their back as a result of government inaction.”
The December Statistics can be found here.
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