Local Assembly Member JOYCE WATSON is to speak to Welsh ambulance chiefs by video-conference to seek reassurances over poor emergency response times in her constituency.Mid and West Wales Labour AM will use the technology this Friday (September 26) to talk to Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Chief Executive Alan Murray, Regional Director Dafydd Jones-Morris and Locality Ambulance Officer Sonia Thompson.
Last November, Health Minister Edwina Hart ordered a review of the service following poor response times in some areas of Wales. In June, the results of the review were published with 16 recommendations. Edwina said that she expected significant improvements by this December.
But areas within Joyce’s constituency are still falling below the target of reaching 60 per cent of 999 calls (Category A) within eight minutes.
According to the service’s latest figures for Powys, the average rate from January to July this year is 45.7 per cent compared to 47 per cent last year. In Pembrokeshire, the average rate is 58.5 per cent compared to 61.6 per cent last year. In Carmarthenshire, the rate is 56 per cent compared to 58.8 per cent last year.
Although there has been increases in Gwynedd and Ceredigion, average rates are still below the 60 per cent rate.
JOYCE WATSON AM said: “This is an opportunity for me to address these concerns with ambulance chiefs. I represent a largely rural constituency and it is essential that people living in these areas can expect the same standard of service as those in urban areas.
“I want to get to the bottom of why the response times are so low and if there is anything I can do as an Assembly Member to improve this situation.”
