Ambulance response times must improve

1:23pm Thursday 8th January 2009

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The performance of the Welsh Ambulance Service in Carmarthenshire has been criticised by the areas local AM and MP. Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM and Adam Price MP have been running a campaign for improvements to the service in conjunction with local ambulance workers for some time and say that the latest statistics show a worrying trend. November figures for Wales showed that 57.1% of 999 calls were attended to within 8 minutes, well below the 65% target. The Carmarthenshire response was even lower at just 50.6%.

Adam Price MP said: "The situation is becoming unacceptable. Carmarthenshire statistics show that in November 2008 response times to emergency 999 calls were a staggering 15% below the Assembly targets. What is more worrying is that for Wales as a whole the most recent statistics are lower than every month dating back to December 2007. I have met with paramedics often, including just before Christmas and they paint a very bleak picture of what moral is like in the service. I have written to Edwina Hart inviting her to meet with Paramedics in Carmarthenshire to discuss their concerns."

Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM added: "We have nothing but praise for front line paramedics who could not be more dedicated to the service but something has to be done to address this situation and offer more help especially in rural areas. Carmarthenshire was the 6th worst area in Wales for response times. Front line workers need support to address this issue or we could be faced with tragic consequences."

Percentage of Emergency Ambulances arriving within 8 minutes following a category A call.

Wales - 57.1% Conwy - 77.8% Denbighshire - 75.1% Wrexham - 71.3% Swansea - 70.4% North Wales - 70.1% Flintshire - 68.1% Anglesey - 67.1% Merthyr Tydfil - 65.4% Gwynedd - 60.3% Pembrokeshire - 59.1% Central and West Wales - 56.8% Ceredigion - 55.5% Caerphilly - 53.7% Cardiff - 53.7% Newport - 53.0% Vale of Glamorgan - 51.9% Neath Port Talbot - 51.5% South East Wales - 51.0% Blaenau Gwent - 50.9% Carmarthenshire - 50.6% Bridgend - 50.1% Rhondda Cynon Taf - 47.5% Powys - 44.6% Monmouthshire - 44.3% Torfaen - 38.8%