Patients Transported by Taxis Due to Ambulance Shortages
Patients, including those with potential strokes or chest pains, are sometimes being transported to hospitals by taxis because ambulances are unavailable, especially in North Wales.
A senior paramedic reported instances of no available ambulance services in the region, largely because many are held up outside crowded emergency departments.
The Welsh government has called for immediate action to address these delays. The ambulance service is seeking resolutions, for instance by introducing new paramedic positions aimed at handling only critical calls.
Despite such efforts, the situation is challenging, and the intense winter period is yet to peak. I observed the high-demand conditions facing the North Wales ambulance service over two days.
During a call out in Llandudno, I found 80-year-old Jenny Evans distressingly awaiting help on the ground after a fall. Despite efforts by local residents, police, and a medically trained ex-fireman, an ambulance took an extended time to reach her due to distance and existing demand.
Paramedics like Aled Williams, equipped with advanced training, can provide on-site treatment but are unable to transport patients, necessitating long waits for ambulance arrival. Aled's patient, Jenny, eventually received transport as darkness set in, but she likely faced additional hours at the A&E before formal handover to hospital staff.
This type of circumstance, marked by long wait times and paramedic Aled's acknowledgment of the frequent shortage of emergency vehicles, hamstrings the efficiency of the service. The situation is such that sometimes, patients' families, or taxis, must substitute for ambulance transport for severe conditions like heart issues or strokes, an uncomfortable reality for medical professionals like nurse Sian Stott.
The backlog extends to outside hospitals like Glan Clwyd's A&E, where ambulance queues are standard. The consequences of these delays are seen firsthand, as patients like 78-year-old Ann Williams endure significant wait times, both for the arrival of help and for admission into the hospital.
Statistics reveal the severity of the situation:
- Average response time for critical "red" calls was over eight minutes in October.
- The proportion of calls categorized as urgent has increased, with a notable surge in "red" calls.
- Handover delays, exacerbated since the pandemic, resulted in thousands of hours spent by ambulances outside hospitals, beyond the 15-minute target for patient transfers.
The local health board, Betsi Cadwaldr, asserts that various strategies are being implemented to mitigate these delays and that liaisons between doctors and paramedics are occurring to evaluate patients delayed outside hospitals. Yet, pressures on social care, contributing to patient discharge backlogs, are partially blamed for the extended waiting periods.
The Welsh government stresses the necessity for quick and efficient responses, with thousands of hospital beds occupied by patients who could be discharged, intensifying the pressure on the healthcare system.
The Welsh government has called for immediate action to address these delays. The ambulance service is seeking resolutions, for instance by introducing new paramedic positions aimed at handling only critical calls.
Despite such efforts, the situation is challenging, and the intense winter period is yet to peak. I observed the high-demand conditions facing the North Wales ambulance service over two days.
During a call out in Llandudno, I found 80-year-old Jenny Evans distressingly awaiting help on the ground after a fall. Despite efforts by local residents, police, and a medically trained ex-fireman, an ambulance took an extended time to reach her due to distance and existing demand.
Paramedics like Aled Williams, equipped with advanced training, can provide on-site treatment but are unable to transport patients, necessitating long waits for ambulance arrival. Aled's patient, Jenny, eventually received transport as darkness set in, but she likely faced additional hours at the A&E before formal handover to hospital staff.
This type of circumstance, marked by long wait times and paramedic Aled's acknowledgment of the frequent shortage of emergency vehicles, hamstrings the efficiency of the service. The situation is such that sometimes, patients' families, or taxis, must substitute for ambulance transport for severe conditions like heart issues or strokes, an uncomfortable reality for medical professionals like nurse Sian Stott.
The backlog extends to outside hospitals like Glan Clwyd's A&E, where ambulance queues are standard. The consequences of these delays are seen firsthand, as patients like 78-year-old Ann Williams endure significant wait times, both for the arrival of help and for admission into the hospital.
Statistics reveal the severity of the situation:
- Average response time for critical "red" calls was over eight minutes in October.
- The proportion of calls categorized as urgent has increased, with a notable surge in "red" calls.
- Handover delays, exacerbated since the pandemic, resulted in thousands of hours spent by ambulances outside hospitals, beyond the 15-minute target for patient transfers.
The local health board, Betsi Cadwaldr, asserts that various strategies are being implemented to mitigate these delays and that liaisons between doctors and paramedics are occurring to evaluate patients delayed outside hospitals. Yet, pressures on social care, contributing to patient discharge backlogs, are partially blamed for the extended waiting periods.
The Welsh government stresses the necessity for quick and efficient responses, with thousands of hospital beds occupied by patients who could be discharged, intensifying the pressure on the healthcare system.
