Emergency ambulance response continues to improve

The Welsh Ambulance Service responded to 71% of calls for people with an immediately life-threatening illness or injury, known as red calls, within eight minutes in April, continuing the improvement in performance.

The expectation is that at least 65% of responses to red calls should arrive within eight minutes. The target has been achieved every month since a clinical response model pilot began in October 2015.  The pilot aims to improve patient outcomes by prioritising people at immediate risk of dying.

Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport Vaughan Gething said:

“In the face of steadily rising demand, the Welsh Ambulance Service has once again exceeded the eight minute response time target for life-threatening calls.

“More than seven in ten people who need an immediate emergency response received one in less than eight minutes, and half within five and a half minutes.

“I’m pleased to see that the new clinical response model is ensuring that people who need immediate intervention from our emergency ambulance clinicians and their partners are getting the care that they need.  The Welsh Ambulance Service is  working hard to improve its clinical performance as well as its responsiveness in rural areas like Powys, and I want to thank staff for their efforts.”