“Over 340 Emergency Calls Are Waiting as Many Ambulances Remain Stuck Outside Hospitals, Unable to Help New Emergencies”

The Welsh Ambulance Service has announced a “critical incident” this evening because they are facing a huge increase in 999 calls and long delays at hospitals. This means they are struggling to keep up with the demand for ambulances and emergency care.

Right now, there are over 340 emergency calls waiting for an ambulance to be sent, and more than half of their ambulances are stuck outside hospitals. These ambulances can’t respond to new emergencies because they are waiting to hand over patients to hospital staff.

Because of this, some patients are waiting for many hours for an ambulance to arrive, and it’s also taking longer for emergency calls to be answered. The service is under so much pressure that they’ve had to put a special plan in place to deal with the situation. This plan is meant to help them continue providing care to those who need it most and reduce the strain on the system.

Stephen Sheldon, the head of service, explained why this step was taken. He said: “Declaring a critical incident is something we rarely do, but we’ve reached a point where the demand is overwhelming. With over 90 ambulances stuck at hospitals waiting to hand over patients, we can’t help new patients as quickly as we want to.

“We are very sorry that some people will have to wait longer for an ambulance or to get their call answered. This is not the kind of care we want to provide, and we know it’s frustrating. But please know that we are doing everything we can to improve the situation.”

Mr. Sheldon also asked the public to help. He said: “Please only call 999 if it’s a life-threatening emergency, such as a heart attack, chest pain, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, choking, or if someone is unconscious. For other issues, there are alternatives you can use. Try the NHS 111 Wales website, your GP, a pharmacist, or a Minor Injuries Unit. These options will help us keep ambulances free for people who really need them.”

He also praised the hard work of the ambulance staff and volunteers. “Our team is doing an amazing job despite the difficult conditions. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication during this tough time for the health service,” he said.

The ambulance service emphasized the importance of using emergency resources wisely so that they are available for people who need them the most. They are urging everyone to think carefully before calling 999, and to only use it for true emergencies. This will allow them to focus on saving lives and responding to the most serious situations as quickly as possible.