Ambulance response times: 'More needs to be done'

In April the Welsh Ambulance Service achieved a 4 percentage point increase in the number of emergency responses arriving at the scene within the eight minute target. In the same month, 75% of patients who required an emergency response received one within 12 minutes, and over 90% received a response within 20 minutes.

While this is encouraging, more needs to be done to ensure performance improves in the long term. The Minister for Health and Social Services has accepted a number of recommendations made following the recent review of Welsh Ambulance Services, with focus on delivering a clinical service to ensure patients receive the right response, at the right time and in the right place.