Ambulance response times published today show that, of Red calls, only 50% of calls across Wales were reached within 8 minutes. The figures are 44%, 39%, and 47% for Powys, Hywel Dda, and Betsi Cadwaladr respectively. This is a further deterioration on previous months.
Responding to ambulance response times figures published today, Welsh Liberal Democrats Leader and Mid & West Wales Senedd Member Jane Dodds said:
“These figures are a tragedy. Targets aren’t even close to being met and ambulance response times have gotten worse. While we all understand the severe pressure the pandemic has placed on NHS, these problems are not new.
“What really stands out is the huge variance in performance across Wales. Here in Powys and in Hywel Dda, we have some of the worst response times in the country. We absolutely cannot continue with a postcode lottery when it comes to life saving services and rural regions cannot continue to be neglected.
“If we are to reduce pressures on our ambulance services and A&Es, we must invest more in community healthcare and GPs. If people could get a GP appointment in reasonable time there would be far less pressure on emergency services. For too many people in Mid and West Wales this just isn’t happening and rural Wales continues to suffer from a shortage of GPs.
“We also need action on social care, both to prevent high numbers entering emergency departments and to ensure people have safe environments to be discharged to following any emergency treatment.
“This situation cannot continue. Political parties and practitioners must come together to solve this problem urgently.”
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