The Welsh Ambulance Service has declared a “critical incident” due to rising demand across the entire 999 service and delays in transferring patients to hospitals. When the critical incident was declared on Monday evening, more than 340 calls were left unanswered across Wales. In addition to that, over 50% of ambulance vehicles were waiting outside hospitals to hand over patients.
The service is now encouraging the public to contact 999 only in the case of serious emergencies, as some patients are waiting for hours for an ambulance. Meanwhile, the service is taking additional measures to ensure that it can carry on delivering a service to the public. Stephen Sheldon, head of service, also added that if the public only used 999 during a life-threatening incident, doing so could significantly relieve the pressure on ambulance services.
The Welsh Ambulance Service has described the situation as “very rare”. Previously, a critical incident was declared in December 2020 due to high levels of demand, particularly in south-east Wales. Furthermore, an “extraordinary incident” was declared in 2023 when an ambulance waited outside a hospital for over 28 hours. Sixteen ambulances were seen waiting outside the emergency department at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital, causing a ripple effect on other services as well.
Monday’s critical incident declaration comes just after several health boards implemented new regulations in order to control the spread of infection. There are concerns of an increase in flu cases, and Cardiff and Vale, Hywel Dda, Aneurin Bevan, and Cwm Taf Morgannwg health boards all introduced rules for face coverings over the weekend. Swansea Bay and Betsi Cadwaladr also confirmed that, in order to reduce the spread of flu, staff and visitors must wear facemasks and avoid making hospital visits for the time being.
In conclusion, it is critical for the public to show discretion and only contact 999 in the event of a real emergency. Because of increased demand and hospital handover delays, the Welsh Ambulance Service is under considerable pressure. It is essential to remember the importance of visiting hospitals and emergency services in a safe and responsible way, particularly in light of the current situation
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