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| Welsh ambulance response time target missed again | Welsh ambulance response time target missed again |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Welsh ambulances have again missed their target of reaching 65% of life-threatening incidents in eight minutes. | Welsh ambulances have again missed their target of reaching 65% of life-threatening incidents in eight minutes. |
| The figure for March was 55%, up from 52.8% in February and from 53.3% in March 2013, but still below the target. | The figure for March was 55%, up from 52.8% in February and from 53.3% in March 2013, but still below the target. |
| Conservatives said Labour ministers should reverse "record-breaking" NHS cuts, Liberal Democrats said patients and staff were being "badly let down". | Conservatives said Labour ministers should reverse "record-breaking" NHS cuts, Liberal Democrats said patients and staff were being "badly let down". |
| Ministers said they expect changes this month to the way ambulance services are organised to improve performance. | Ministers said they expect changes this month to the way ambulance services are organised to improve performance. |
| Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar said: "Labour's legacy of record-breaking NHS budget cuts has seen beds axed and services cut back leading to full A&E units, so ambulances are unable to swiftly transfer patients and get back on the road to other urgent calls. | Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar said: "Labour's legacy of record-breaking NHS budget cuts has seen beds axed and services cut back leading to full A&E units, so ambulances are unable to swiftly transfer patients and get back on the road to other urgent calls. |
| "Instead of focusing resources on improving ambulance response times, after nearly two years of missed targets, Labour's response is to discuss scrapping targets and rebranding. | |
| "Labour ministers must reverse their record-breaking cuts and start investing in the ambulance service to improve patient care and speed up responses." | "Labour ministers must reverse their record-breaking cuts and start investing in the ambulance service to improve patient care and speed up responses." |
| Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams said it was a "national disgrace" that less than half of ambulances met the 65% target of life-threatening calls in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire and Cardiff. | Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams said it was a "national disgrace" that less than half of ambulances met the 65% target of life-threatening calls in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire and Cardiff. |
| "Lives can be lost because of slow response times and people are being badly let down." | "Lives can be lost because of slow response times and people are being badly let down." |
| She said she was concerned about the "stress our ambulance staff are being put under" and that it must be "hugely demoralising" to work "tremendously hard" and see such figures published each month. | She said she was concerned about the "stress our ambulance staff are being put under" and that it must be "hugely demoralising" to work "tremendously hard" and see such figures published each month. |
| In a statement, the Welsh government said: "We are disappointed to note the national response time target was not met. | In a statement, the Welsh government said: "We are disappointed to note the national response time target was not met. |
| "New arrangements for the commissioning of emergency ambulance services came into force on April 1, 2014 and we expect health boards to drive forward improved performance over the coming months." | "New arrangements for the commissioning of emergency ambulance services came into force on April 1, 2014 and we expect health boards to drive forward improved performance over the coming months." |