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A&E care centres to ease strain A&E care centres to ease strain
(about 14 hours later)
Plans to end delays for patients needing emergency hospital care are expected to be published later. Plans aimed at relieving the strain on accident and emergency wards have been announced by Health Minister Edwina Hart.
"Urgent" care centres will be given a trial, diverting patients away from A&E units if their lives are not in danger."Urgent" care centres will be given a trial, diverting patients away from A&E units if their lives are not in danger.
It has been welcomed by Wales' ambulance chief who says using his service is not always warranted.It has been welcomed by Wales' ambulance chief who says using his service is not always warranted.
Health Minister Edwina Hart said: "This new strategy rebalances a system which was designed to cope with the past to meet the challenges of the future." Ms Hart said the strategy "rebalances" a system "designed to cope with the past".
Every year some 1.4m patients are driven to hospital by paramedics despite the fact their illness is not considered an emergency.Every year some 1.4m patients are driven to hospital by paramedics despite the fact their illness is not considered an emergency.
'Emergency''Emergency'
Waits of up to four hours for treatment can still occur at some Welsh hospitals and up to eight hours as ambulances queue up outside waiting to hand over patients.Waits of up to four hours for treatment can still occur at some Welsh hospitals and up to eight hours as ambulances queue up outside waiting to hand over patients.
The planned new emergency care centres aim to assess and treating people whose lives are not at risk. The planned new emergency care centres aim to assess and treat people whose lives are not at risk.
Better links with minor injury services are also being promised, as well as clearer advice for patients.Better links with minor injury services are also being promised, as well as clearer advice for patients.
    Four NHS trusts are set to named as "early adopter sites":
    Four NHS trusts are set to named as "early adopter sites":
  • Conwy & Denbighshire Trust and Local Health Boards (LHBs)
  • Pembrokeshire LHB and Trust
  • Rhondda Cynon Taff & Merthyr LHBs and Royal Glamorgan and North Glamorgan Trusts
  • Bro Morgannwg Trust and Bridgend & Neath Port Talbot LHB
  • Conwy & Denbighshire Trust and Local Health Boards (LHBs)
  • Pembrokeshire LHB and Trust
  • Rhondda Cynon Taff & Merthyr LHBs and Royal Glamorgan and North Glamorgan Trusts
  • Bro Morgannwg Trust and Bridgend & Neath Port Talbot LHB
    • Alan Murray, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said people needed to realise there were other options available for treatment.Alan Murray, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said people needed to realise there were other options available for treatment.
    He said: "A lot of people dial 999 because they need some form of care in what they very clearly see as an emergency, but it may not be appropriate to send a full emergency ambulance response.He said: "A lot of people dial 999 because they need some form of care in what they very clearly see as an emergency, but it may not be appropriate to send a full emergency ambulance response.
    "So in our end of the unscheduled care realm what we're looking at is offering other items on the menu, that will clearly help us as well, because it will reduce the number of people going to the front door of the hospital.""So in our end of the unscheduled care realm what we're looking at is offering other items on the menu, that will clearly help us as well, because it will reduce the number of people going to the front door of the hospital."
    FiguresFigures
    Health minister Edwina Hart, who is to announce the plans on Tuesday, said: "It's about ensuring that patients get the right care, at the right time, by the right person - and it's also a more efficient use of NHS resources. Ms Hart, announcing the strategy in the Senedd, said: "We're looking at ways in which we can improve access for the public
    "There are four-hour targets which monitor the length of time patients spend in the A&E department.
    "But I am concerned that these services are treating patients who perhaps could and should be treated elsewhere.
    "We must ensure that we are helping patients access the right services and we will be monitoring attendances at those departments to see how this strategy has been implemented."
    Last week Ms Hart asked for figures to be collected on patients who use A&E when they could instead see their GP.Last week Ms Hart asked for figures to be collected on patients who use A&E when they could instead see their GP.
    A consultant at the A&E department at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital at Llantrisant, estimated up to 40% of the 200 patients treated there daily should be seeing their GP instead.A consultant at the A&E department at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital at Llantrisant, estimated up to 40% of the 200 patients treated there daily should be seeing their GP instead.