Health

Scale of ‘devastating ambulance waits’ across Wales revealed in latest figures

Published

4 years ago

June 21, 2022

OVER 10,000 people with serious conditions are waiting over an hour for an ambulance in Wales.

In figures obtained by the Welsh Conservatives, it was found 3,351 people that rang an ambulance and were designated amber in April had to wait over four hours for it to arrive.

According to monthly Welsh Government statistics, a staggering two-thirds (67.1% or 10,157) of amber ambulances took over an hour to reach their patient, but it took a written question from the Leader of the Opposition to find out exactly how long people had to wait.

Ambulances waiting to unload outside Withybush Hospital (Pic: Herald)

The information uncovered that 344 people waited over 12 hours. 14 waited over a day for an amber call to be reached, half of which were in North Wales.

Calls for ambulances are triaged into red, amber, and green calls. Red calls are life-threatening but serious conditions like strokes are classified as amber by the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay.

Three red-calls also took over an hour to reach their patient in April, two in Dyfed and one in the Swansea Bay health board area.

Only 51% of responses to immediately life-threatening calls arrived within eight minutes, down from 61% in April 2021. The target of 65% of red-calls reaching their patient within eight minutes has not been reached in over 18 months.

It follows news of dozens of incidents when police cars had to be deployed as ambulances.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative and Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said: “It is scandalous how long people have to wait for ambulance in Wales, no matter how serious the emergency – if you’re in need of one, your problem needs urgent attention.

“I cannot imagine the anguish people feel as they or a loved one are left languishing in pain because Labour’s mismanagement of the NHS has turned ambulance provision into a postcode lottery.

“We know that ambulance delays are down to them getting stuck at A&E departments, full and slow-moving because of issues in accessing other parts of the NHS.

“That’s why Labour need a plan to ensure people come to hospital as a last resort, not because they have no confidence in or access to other parts of the health service.”

Andrew RT Davies MS, the Welsh Conservative leader who submitted the question, added: “These waits are very concerning, more so because we had to dig them up because ministers do not routinely publish them.

“We know the pandemic has hit all aspects of the NHS hard, but we know that the NHS under Labour has been in dire straits for a long time and ambulance waits have been going downhill for a while.

“As I told the First Minister back in March, he has failed to plan for the end of Army assistance in the ambulance service and now patients and paramedics are paying the price.”

Responding to the publication of Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch’s Interim Bulletin Harm caused by delays in transferring patients to the right place of care, Dr Henderson said: “It is well-known among health care professionals, especially the Paramedicine and Emergency Medicine workforce, that ambulance handover delays cause serious harm to patients. Instances of ambulance handover delays became a frequent and serious threat in late 2020 and early 2021 and in response to this rising threat The College published Ambulance Handover Delays: Options Appraisal. In November 2021, The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives published their report Delayed hospital handovers: Impact assessment of patient harm which found that these delays were leading to an unacceptable level of patient harm and presented a serious risk.

“We welcome the HSIB interim bulletin and its safety recommendations, we urge the Department of Health and Social Care to prioritise and urgently act on these recommendations. The situation continues to worsen, and it is highly detrimental to patient safety, to paramedic and EM staff, and public confidence in the emergency care services. Critically, the Urgent and Emergency Care system is failing to function as it should, we must do all we can to change that.”

Figures released recenerly show that in last month only half (51.2%) of red ambulance calls were met within the target time across Wales. In some areas such as Hywel Dda Health Board it is as low as 39%.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling on the Welsh Government to address waiting times for primary care services to relieve the pressure on A&E.

Commenting Jane Dodds MS said: “This simply cannot go on. Our NHS staff and ambulance are doing everything they can, but people’s lives are at risk when ambulance response times are so poor.

“Week after week I hear stories of people waiting hours for an ambulance, hours for treatment in A&E and even being treated in the back of ambulances sat outside our hospitals.

“The Welsh Labour Government is failing time and again to address the crisis in our NHS.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “As the health service continues to recover from the pandemic, and more people are coming forward with health concerns, we have seen the highest number of referrals for a first outpatient appointment since January 2020, with just over 115,000 referrals made in March. This increase in referrals helps to explain why the total waiting lists size increased by 1.4% on the previous month. It should be noted that activity levels for treatment and outpatients are at their highest level since the start of the pandemic.

“The number of outpatients appointments in March, was the highest since January 2020 (255,384). On top of this the numbers of inpatient and day case treatments, were the highest since the start of the pandemic.

“The number of patient pathways closed in March, that is people who have started or no longer require treatment, was the highest since the start of the pandemic, 1.7% more per day on average than in February.

“While the total numbers waiting for diagnostic tests continues to increase, the numbers waiting over the 8 weeks target decreased for the second month in a row to their lowest level since April 2021 and by 4.9% compared to February 2022.

“March also saw the highest level of activity in cancer services since December 2020. There was a 12.4% increase in the number of people starting their first treatment following a new cancer diagnosis, compared to the previous month. 12,643 pathways were closed following patients being informed they did not have cancer, an increase of 11.1% on February 2022.

“The Planned Care Recovery Plan published last month set out a series of ambitions. The first ambition was to reduce the number of open pathways waiting over 52 weeks for a first outpatient appointment to zero by the end of 2022.
In In March 2022, the number of pathways waiting over 52 weeks for the first outpatient appointment decreased by 1% compared to February.

“In March 2022, the number of pathways waiting over 52 weeks decreased by 4.8% compared to March 2021.

“Despite the percentage of patient pathways waiting more than 36 weeks increasing in March, the average time waiting for treatment fell and the proportion waiting less than 26 weeks increased.”

“This month sees the first publication of 111 data since the service was rolled out across Wales. In April almost 86,000 calls were made to the 111 service, an average of 2,863 calls per day. The service is run by the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and can be accessed online at 111.wales.nhs.uk or by telephone by calling 111, will give people up-to-date health advice and guidance on which NHS service is right for them.

“999 emergency ambulance and emergency department staff and services remain under considerable pressure and performance is not where we want it to be. Our Six Goals for urgent and emergency care programme has been launched to support improvements in outcomes and experience by helping staff to deliver the right care, in the right place, first time whenever possible.

“There was a decrease in average daily attendances to emergency departments in April, and a slight improvement in performance against the targets. The number of life threating ‘red’ calls remains high, increasing by 36% when compared to the same month in 2021. There is a live national delivery plan in place to support continuous improvement, including in support of tackling ambulance patient handover delays.

“It is important to note that during March nearly 400,000 patient consultations were seen by the NHS in Wales for emergency or elective treatment.”

Health

Welsh adults using harmful habits to manage mental health

Published

17 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

NEW POLLING shows more than two-thirds of adults in Wales are using potentially harmful coping mechanisms when feeling stressed, anxious or low.

The Mental Health Foundation said the findings, released for Mental Health Awareness Week, show a need for the new Welsh Government to prioritise prevention and action on poor mental health.

The survey found that 69% of adults in Wales had taken harmful actions to cope with their mental health in the past month.

More than a third, 36%, said they had spent time isolating themselves from others, while 34% reported spending more time scrolling social media or going online as a way to deal with anxiety, stress or low mood.

Other commonly reported behaviours included comfort eating or overeating, at 27%, and oversleeping or not getting out of bed, at 31%.

The Mental Health Foundation said these behaviours were concerning because evidence suggests they can make mental health worse over time.

However, the polling also found that many people in Wales are taking positive steps to support their wellbeing.

More than four in five adults, 84%, had taken at least one helpful action to support their mental health. The most common were accessing nature, at 41%, doing something enjoyable such as a hobby, at 37%, and taking part in physical activity or prioritising sleep and rest, at 35%.

The poll of 1,015 people in Wales was carried out by Opinium on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation. It was released to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from May 11 to 17.

Catherine Razzell, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the Mental Health Foundation, said: “This polling tells us that, here in Wales, there is a concerning degree of harmful actions taken by people as a way of dealing with their feelings of poor mental health, such as doomscrolling or overeating.

“We are hopeful to see positive actions being taken by individuals to help maintain and improve good mental health. Tried and trusted activities such as connecting with nature, which many of us are fortunate to have access to in Wales, and taking part in physical exercise and rest, in equal measure, are all known to support our mental health.”

Calls for action

The polling found that nearly two-thirds of people in Wales, 64%, are using at least one harmful coping mechanism alongside positive actions.

Only one in five, 20%, reported taking only helpful actions to support their mental health.

The Mental Health Foundation said the results come at a significant moment following the Senedd election, with a new Welsh Government now in place.

Ms Razzell added: “Whilst it is good news people are finding ways to prioritise and protect their mental health and support those around them, more action is needed from our governments to create the conditions to support good mental health.

“We are seeing a once in a generation change politically in Wales. We are one year into the new ten-year mental health strategy for Wales and are keen to see how the new government will implement and resource this.

“In addition to a resourced focus on prevention, which we know has long-term economic benefits, we know that inequalities exist here that are huge barriers to good mental health, keeping people locked in poverty for generations.

“We want to see these issues tackled head-on by the new government for Wales. Now is the time for action and not talk.”

Mental Health Awareness Week is run by the Mental Health Foundation. This year’s theme is “Action”.

Health

Hywel Dda health board celebrates International Nurses Day

Published

18 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HEALTH chiefs are marking International Nurses Day by celebrating the vital contribution made by nurses across mid and west Wales.

Hywel Dda University Health Board said the day, held each year on May 12, is an opportunity to recognise the work nurses do for patients, families and communities.

This year’s theme is Empowered Nurses Save Lives, reflecting the role nurses play in delivering high-quality, compassionate care, often in challenging circumstances and at some of the most critical moments in people’s lives.

Nurses work across a wide range of settings, including hospitals, community services, primary care, education, research and leadership.

The health board said supporting and empowering the nursing workforce is key to enabling nurses to use their skills fully, continue to develop professionally, and lead improvements in care.

Sharon Daniel, Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “International Nurses Day is an important opportunity to recognise the incredible difference our nurses make every single day.

“Empowered nurses save lives, and we see this through the skill, compassion and professionalism shown across our services.

“As we review our Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Framework, Empowered to Care, this is a timely moment to reinforce our commitment to supporting the nursing profession to grow, lead and shape services throughout their careers.

“When our staff feel valued, trusted and supported, teams are stronger and patient care is safer and more effective.”

The health board said nursing is founded on teamwork, with nurses working at the heart of multi-disciplinary teams alongside medical colleagues, allied health professionals and others to deliver joined-up, person-centred care.

It said the approach supports its wider ambition of improving health and wellbeing and providing care closer to home.

International Nurses Day is also being used as an opportunity to thank the nursing and midwifery workforce for their dedication, expertise and commitment to caring for others.

Health

NHS Wales users share mental health support stories

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Two Welsh patients say free online programmes helped them manage anxiety and stress

TWO people who transformed their mental wellbeing with the help of NHS Wales’ online support services are encouraging others to seek help during Mental Health Awareness Week.

Kate, 39, from Cardiff, and George Ryley, 27, from Aberystwyth, both say free online self-help programmes helped them regain control during difficult periods in their lives.

The pair were supported through SilverCloud Wales, a suite of digital mental health programmes based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, managed by Powys Teaching Health Board.

The stories are being highlighted as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, which this year focuses on the theme of “Action”.

Parental anxiety

Kate sought help after her young son began suffering febrile seizures, triggering severe anxiety that quickly escalated.

“My chest would tighten and I’d get this feeling like a wave of nausea,” she said. “I couldn’t eat, couldn’t focus.”

She described becoming consumed by fear, constantly checking on her son and worrying about possible seizure triggers.

“I was so distracted at work that I had to stay behind after hours, and at home I didn’t feel I was always present with my son in the right way,” she said.

After speaking with her GP, Kate was diagnosed with parental anxiety and referred to SilverCloud’s “Space from Anxiety” programme.

She said the flexibility of the online course made it easier to fit around family life.

“I could do it in the evening when my son had gone to sleep, or during breaks in the day. It worked around me,” she said.

Kate says she still regularly uses mindfulness, breathing exercises and writing techniques she learned through the programme.

“I haven’t had a single anxiety attack since I started it,” she added. “I’ve not looked back.”

Stress and illness

Meanwhile, Aberystwyth resident George Ryley turned to the service after work pressures and illness left him physically and mentally exhausted.

“I was used to being busy and active,” he said. “Then suddenly, even having a shower would sap all my energy for the day.”

George said a period of poor health linked to mould toxicity left him bed-bound for several weeks and badly affected his mental wellbeing.

After contacting his GP, he was referred for counselling and encouraged to try SilverCloud’s “Space from Stress” programme.

“I didn’t have the most positive mindset at first,” he said. “But as I worked through it, I was amazed at how effective it was.”

Each SilverCloud user is assigned a dedicated supporter who provides encouragement and advice throughout the course.

“Having such lovely feedback on my progress was really motivating,” George said.

“I’ve recommended SilverCloud to so many people who I know have been struggling with stress.”

Taking the first step

Fionnuala Clayton, project manager for NHS Wales’ Online CBT Service, said the stories showed how small actions could make a major difference.

“This Mental Health Awareness Week reminds us that action doesn’t have to be dramatic or overwhelming – sometimes it’s simply about taking that first step to seek support,” she said.

“SilverCloud Wales gives people the tools to understand their thoughts, manage anxiety and stress, and build resilience in a way that fits around busy working and family lives.”

SilverCloud Wales is free to access through NHS Wales and can be used on phones, tablets or laptops.

The service is not intended as a crisis support platform or for those requiring high levels of intervention.

People can sign up at nhswales.silvercloudhealth.com/signup.