The BBC report on the condition of the Welsh Ambulance Service and it is not good.
The former head of the Service has reviewed progress since he left his post and has told the BBC that what he found shocked him.
Recent figures showed the service was the worst performing paramedic service in England and Wales again. There has been no progress on key indicators in the last three years.
Since 2006 ambulance response times across Wales have failed to improve and four out of every 10 people who call 999 are still waiting too long for emergency help.
Some are being ferried to hospital in the back of police cars and even fire engines.
Despite this the Minister seems intent on passing the buck. She has said that she is not happy with the way that the service is being managed and yet she seems reluctant to put her money where her mouth is and deal with this.
As it happens I do not happen to believe that management is the problem, it is the lack of support they are getting from the Government. Despite being set challenging targets the Welsh Ambulance Service have been told that they have to cut £17 million from their budget this year and £23 million next year. It is an impossible position for any manager to be put in.
In addition capital bids for much needed improvements have been held up in the Minister’s department for months. Ambulances are stacking up outside accident and emergency departments in South East Wales and Cardiff because of a shortage of acute beds and projects to deal with that such as the Gwent critical care centre seem to be forever delayed.
Instead of criticising management and asking for difficult targets to be met whilst imposing swinging cuts the Minister needs to work with them and give them the backing they need.
Related posts:
