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Ambulance service criticised after targets missed again

Opposition parties are putting pressure on the Welsh Government over the failure of the ambulance service to reach response time targets. Ministers have demanded 'urgent improvements' from the Welsh Ambulance Service.

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Ambulance Service: More 999 calls and handover delays

The Welsh Ambulance Service has responded to criticism over its failure to meet its response time targets for the most urgent calls.

It says its response times have been affected by an increase in the number of calls received, and "lengthy handover delays at some hospitals."

The service says it recognises the fact that it does not always meet its targets, but says it is working as hard as possible to provide the best treatment for patients.

The Welsh Ambulance Service took 36,544 calls in May, up by more than 1,350 calls from the previous month and more than 1,700 calls from the same period last year.

The emergency healthcare system across Wales is facing continuous pressure with an ageing population and more people suffering long-term conditions.

An increase in the most serious type of emergency calls combined with lengthy handover delays at some hospitals has had an impact on our response times to incidents, and we would like to recognise the hard work, commitment and dedication of all our staff during this difficult time.

We recognise that on occasion we are short of the eight-minute target for the most serious calls, but are working, and will continue to work, as hard as we can to get to patients as quickly as possible.

We are committed to improving ambulance services in Wales as outlined in our clinical transformation and modernisation programme, Working Together for Success.

– Mike Collins, Director of Service Delivery, Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust

It also urges the public to use the most appropriate NHS services, and says "please remember only to dial 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk."

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