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| Ambulances still waiting at A&E | Ambulances still waiting at A&E |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Patients are regularly waiting more than 50 minutes in ambulances outside south east Wales A&E departments. | Patients are regularly waiting more than 50 minutes in ambulances outside south east Wales A&E departments. |
| Over the last three months an average 106 vehicles a week have waited more than 50 minutes to deliver patients, the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed. | Over the last three months an average 106 vehicles a week have waited more than 50 minutes to deliver patients, the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed. |
| Wales's biggest hospital blamed bed blocking and people needlessly turning up at casualty. | Wales's biggest hospital blamed bed blocking and people needlessly turning up at casualty. |
| In February there were delays at two hospitals due to a high volume of 999 calls and a shortage of beds. | In February there were delays at two hospitals due to a high volume of 999 calls and a shortage of beds. |
| The University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, said 160 of its beds were unavailable due to bed blocking. | The University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, said 160 of its beds were unavailable due to bed blocking. |
| We know that more than 30% of people who come to our emergency unit could be treated by their GP or pharmacist Hugh Ross, chief executive of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust | We know that more than 30% of people who come to our emergency unit could be treated by their GP or pharmacist Hugh Ross, chief executive of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust |
| In a statement, it said a third of emergency patients could be treated by a GP or pharmacist. | In a statement, it said a third of emergency patients could be treated by a GP or pharmacist. |
| Hugh Ross, chief executive of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "Our emergency unit has been under greater pressure this summer than in previous years. | Hugh Ross, chief executive of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "Our emergency unit has been under greater pressure this summer than in previous years. |
| "This has meant more patients have experienced delays, and the trust regrets that this has been the case. | "This has meant more patients have experienced delays, and the trust regrets that this has been the case. |
| "We know that more than 30% of people who come to our emergency unit could be treated by their GP or pharmacist, based on Welsh Assembly Government surveys." | "We know that more than 30% of people who come to our emergency unit could be treated by their GP or pharmacist, based on Welsh Assembly Government surveys." |
| He said 160 beds were unavailable because of delayed transfers of care - or bed blocking - and the length of these delays was "greater than in the past". | He said 160 beds were unavailable because of delayed transfers of care - or bed blocking - and the length of these delays was "greater than in the past". |
| The ambulance trust said it was addressing the issue with accident and emergency departments as a matter of urgency. | The ambulance trust said it was addressing the issue with accident and emergency departments as a matter of urgency. |
| The summer months are traditionally a quiet time but the ambulance service said it has been encountering problems at major district hospitals. | The summer months are traditionally a quiet time but the ambulance service said it has been encountering problems at major district hospitals. |
| The issue is of great concern to the service and we are, as a matter of urgency, addressing the situation with the hospitals Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson | The issue is of great concern to the service and we are, as a matter of urgency, addressing the situation with the hospitals Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson |
| However, a spokesman said that figures had improved this week to an average of 85 ambulances waiting at hospitals for more than 50 minutes. | However, a spokesman said that figures had improved this week to an average of 85 ambulances waiting at hospitals for more than 50 minutes. |
| Mike Cassidy, director of ambulance services in Wales, said how often and how long ambulances were having to wait varied. | Mike Cassidy, director of ambulance services in Wales, said how often and how long ambulances were having to wait varied. |
| But, he added: "We've experienced some difficulties, maybe one or two days every couple of weeks just when the system overheats a bit and when demand is extremely high for us." | But, he added: "We've experienced some difficulties, maybe one or two days every couple of weeks just when the system overheats a bit and when demand is extremely high for us." |
| He said that since February most serious patients had been admitted immediately while some less serious cases waited three to four hours "on occasions". | He said that since February most serious patients had been admitted immediately while some less serious cases waited three to four hours "on occasions". |
| Measures had been put in place to help ease pressure on A&E, such as employing GPs in ambulance service control centres. | Measures had been put in place to help ease pressure on A&E, such as employing GPs in ambulance service control centres. |
| Mr Cassidy added that it was important to make the public aware of the alternatives to calling an ambulance so resources were kept for the most seriously ill. | Mr Cassidy added that it was important to make the public aware of the alternatives to calling an ambulance so resources were kept for the most seriously ill. |
| "I think quite often people call ambulances because they don't really know what the alternatives are, and I think it's about us trying to get information to the public to let them know what alternatives are available, for example, general practice and NHS Direct Wales," he said. | "I think quite often people call ambulances because they don't really know what the alternatives are, and I think it's about us trying to get information to the public to let them know what alternatives are available, for example, general practice and NHS Direct Wales," he said. |
| 'Great concern' | 'Great concern' |
| A spokesman for the ambulance trust said it was working with hospitals to find ways of easing the pressure on accident and emergency departments. | A spokesman for the ambulance trust said it was working with hospitals to find ways of easing the pressure on accident and emergency departments. |
| The ambulance service experienced a crisis in 2006 which saw several bosses quit. | The ambulance service experienced a crisis in 2006 which saw several bosses quit. |
| It had failed to meet response time targets and was branded "appalling" and "unacceptable" in a report by a committee of AMs in March this year. | It had failed to meet response time targets and was branded "appalling" and "unacceptable" in a report by a committee of AMs in March this year. |
| But in May, it claimed its performance was the best in its history, after hitting response targets for the second month running. | But in May, it claimed its performance was the best in its history, after hitting response targets for the second month running. |
| Just last month, its chief Alan Murray said he had helped restore some pride and credibility after one year in the job. | Just last month, its chief Alan Murray said he had helped restore some pride and credibility after one year in the job. |
Have you been affected by ambulance queues at accident and emergency? Were you, or a member of your family left waiting in an ambulance for hours because there was no room in the hospital? | |
| Send us your comments. |