To receive a presentation by the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust.
Minutes:
The Chair welcomed Ms Emma Wood – Chief Executive and Ms Estelle Hitchon – Director of Partnership and Engagement of the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust to the meeting.
A brief presentation was given by the representative from the Welsh Ambulance Service which highlighted the recent Welsh Ambulance Phase 2 Framework to address the patients’ clinical needs.
In considering the report, the following were points of discussion by the Committee:-
· Questions were raised whether the 15 minutes transfer of patients from the Ambulance to the A+E department is still a standard. Ms Emma Wood responded that the UK standards for patient’s handover is 15 minutes. She noted that work has been undertaken by the Ambulance Services with all Health Boards to bring the current handover period to 45 minutes. The Ministerial Advisory Group Recommendation Report highlighted the 45 minutes handover as a standard. Ms Estelle Hitchon said that the 45 minutes handover of patients would be a significant improvement to the current transfer period seen over the last few years.
· Questions were raised as to what specific steps are undertaken to improve the response periods for category 1 and category 2 emergencies on Anglesey and whether there are sufficient Ambulance crews to service such a rural area or is the service reliant on crews from Bangor and Gwynedd. Ms Emma Wood responded that demand and capacity procedure is conducted to ensure that there are appropriate ambulance resources within the area. She noted that within rural areas, the service is dependent on volunteers as first responders and rapid response vehicles are also deployed. However, the longer these resources are stationary outside hospitals there is fewer availability for resources to attend to patients. She noted that crews from other areas is undertaken when the needs arise. Ms Estelle Hitchon said that the new model of operational response is that there are more welfare and clinical telephone support for patients that are waiting for an ambulance so as to gauge whether a patient is deteriorating/improving or whether the family have decided to take the patients themselves to the hospital. Community Responders also attend the lower category patients if required to monitor the condition of a patient and to inform the Ambulance Service.
· Questions were raised as to the number of calls the Ambulance Service receives with regard to Mental Health emergencies and what specialist training is provided to the staff. Ms Emma Wood responded that the information as to the number of calls received as regards to Mental Health emergencies will need to be afforded to the Committee in due course. She noted that training for Mental Health emergencies is part of the Paramedic Course afforded by the University and the Ambulance Services is striving to improve training for ambulance crews. She further said that trained nurses within the Ambulance Services Call Centre can advice and refer the practitioners who have advance skills within Mental Health to the patients.
· Questions were raised as to why stroke patients are referred to as amber category response; it was given to believe that there is a need for these patients to receive treatment within a specified timeframe. Ms Emma Wood responded that the red and purple category for response is for patient that are cardiac or respiratory arrest and stroke patients are categorised as needing timely response and transferred to a specialist centre which is part of the Ambulance Service performance standards. Ms Estelle Hitchon said that the calls are categorised, and a Task and Finish Group was established to review the amber categories.
· Reference was made to the Senedd Elections in May 2026 and the change to the Cabinet Secretary for Health. Questions were raised as to what the Ambulance Service would like to receive by Welsh Government to provide a better service for patients other than extra investment. Ms Emma Wood responded that health prevention and improvement in the discharge of patients and pathways of care would be advantageous.
· Reference was made that the successful pilot scheme in northeast Wales with regard to the Fire and Rescue Service attending to nonserious falls was undertaken a few years ago. Whilst Welsh Government did not continue to support this service questions were raised whether this could be reinvestigated to ease pressures on the Ambulance Service. Ms Emma Wood responded that additional resources were afforded by Welsh Government to the Ambulance Service for a ‘falls desk’ for clinical support which resulted in a facility of informing family members to help the patient to recover from a fall. Ms Estelle Hitchon said that the matter can be raised with the Chief Fire Officer for North Wales and within the Joint Emergency Services Group.
· Questions were raised as to the effect on the Ambulance Service following the closure of the Air Ambulance Service in Caernarfon Airport. Ms Emma Wood responded that there are robust services in place regardless of where the Air Ambulance Service is located.
· Questions were raised whether the Ambulance Service has contingency plans if both bridges across the Menai Straits were closed due to bad weather or other emergencies. Ms Emma Wood responded that the Ambulance Service has an emergency resilience plan if the bridges, tunnels or motorways where to be closed and joint working is undertaken with blue lights partners to put a plan in place.
It was RESOLVED to accept the presentation by the representatives from the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust.