£10.5million welcome but more action needed to improve 999 response times in Powys (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

£10.5million welcome but more action needed to improve 999 response times in Powys

February 18, 2009 12:00 AM

Powys Lib Dem Assembly Members Mick Bates and Kirsty Williams have welcomed the announcement that £10.5million will be invested by the Welsh Assembly Government in new satellite navigation, vehicle location systems and mobile data terminals in all emergency ambulances, but warn this money will only go part way to address the huge variation in emergency response times across Wales and more action is needed to tackle the challenge of rural areas.

Commenting, Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates stated:

"I welcome this extra money which will play an important role in lowering response times and improving our ambulance service across Wales. However, this money is only part of the solution if we are to truly tackle the huge variation in response times across Wales, from 78.4% in Conwy to 39.8% in Powys.

"In large rural areas such as Powys, First Responders have a crucial role to play in supporting our ambulance service, as often they can be on the scene quickly in response to emergency calls and provide essential care during the critical minutes before the Ambulance arrives. This is key to improving rural response times and I will continue to urge the Health Minister to invest in First Aid trainers in Montgomeryshire, to train more First Responder groups who will have an increasing role to play in the delivery of emergency care and patient transport."

Brecon and Radnorshire AM Kirsty Williams stated:

"Month on month Powys Ambulances fail to meet emergency response time targets - this is not a reflection on the hard working ambulance staff but a reflection on an Assembly Government which does not understand the exceptional geographic and demographic constraints of our county.

"The Ambulance service in Powys is increasingly overstretched and while the large and sparse nature of Powys puts our emergency services at a disadvantage, this should not be an excuse for putting people's lives at risk. We urgently need to see more support from WAG to address the Trust's excessive debt, to address their role in the Air Ambulance which plays a key part in the delivery of emergency care in rural areas and they must improve our minor injury provision locally so that people across Powys are no longer receiving a second class service."

Notes:

December 2008 saw a substantial fall in the number of Powys Ambulances arriving on scene within the target eight minutes, with those on target falling from 44.6% in November to 39.8%. The All-Wales target is currently set at 65%.

The £10.5million in funding for equipment will enable ambulance controllers to better track ambulances to help in the deployment of the nearest ambulance to a patient. It will also allow controllers to automatically send the location and details of the patient to the ambulance crew.

End/Diwedd