Health

Welsh Ambulance Service issues ‘Black Alert’ as currently can’t keep up with demand

Published

2 years ago

December 11, 2022

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE has declared a “business continuity incident” due to the extremely high demand on its services.

Also known as a “Black Alert,” the service has confirmed it’s currently unable to keep-up with demand for emergency medical care and support.

Despite extensive measures in place, medics have been “unable” to manage the demand for services – with more than 2,000 emergency 999 calls made yesterday ( Dec 10), including 200 “immediately life-threatening red calls”.

In addition, NHS 111 Wales received more than 10,000 calls yesterday, in what was the “busiest day ever” for the service.

Icy weather conditions across West Wales, the M4 and the Valleys have further exacerbated issues, whilst lengthy delays at hospitals has meant demand on the Welsh Ambulance Service has “exceeded its capacity to respond”. As a result, some patients have had to wait hours and hours for an ambulance, a spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service has confirmed.

Director of operations at Wales Ambulance Service, Lee Brooks said declaring a business continuity incident is “rare” and said management “do not take the decision lightly”. Whilst the Wales Ambulance Service Trust is in the process of introducing “special arrangements” to help medics cope with demand, some patients are being asked to make alternative arrangements – such as making their own way to hospital, if possible.

In a statement released today, Sunday, December 11, a spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed to Herald.Wales that the service has declared a “business continuity incident” since last night (Dec 10) and recommends patients needing medical support “make their own way to hospital,” if they can.

The full statement reads: “The Welsh Ambulance Service has overnight declared a ‘business continuity incident’ due to demand across our 999 and 111 services. Demand on the service increased throughout Saturday and Sunday morning, and despite the measures we can take, we have been unable to stem this demand.

“More than 2,000 emergency 999 calls were presented to us yesterday, a 17% increase on last week, and we responded to more than 200 immediately life-threatening red calls, while NHS 111 Wales received over 10,000 calls, the busiest day ever for the service.

“Icy weather conditions affecting West Wales, Heads of the Valleys, and the M4, have not helped our ability to respond. This, coupled with lengthy delays at hospitals across Wales, meant that demand on the service exceeded its capacity to respond.

“As a result, some patients have waited, and regrettably continue to wait for many hours for an ambulance. The Trust has put special arrangements in place to manage demand, including asking some patients to make an alternative arrangement, such as making their own way to hospital.”
Executive director of operations, Lee Brooks added: “It’s rare that we declare a business continuity incident and we do not take the decision lightly. Extreme weather, coupled with a high call volume focused on falls and breathing issues overnight, has limited our capacity to respond safely and timely.

“We are sorry to everyone who has had to wait longer for their calls to be answered, and subsequently wait longer for an ambulance to arrive. I can’t thank our staff and volunteers enough for doing all they can in challenging times.”

Mr Brooks also offered medical advice to parents whose children are showing possible symptoms of Strep A, a potentially-dangerous bacterial infection that’s been identified as affecting some children in Wales.

“It is understandable that parents are cautious when children show possible symptoms of Strep A.
The best place to start if you are concerned is our website (111.wales.nhs.uk) where information about symptoms and what to do can be found,” Me Brooks said. “[NHS helpline] 111 is very busy and demand for those aged under 12 is very high. Please bear with us as we will get to these calls as quickly as we can. Only call 999 or go to A&E if:

Your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their Tummy sucking under their ribs

There are pauses when your child breathes
Your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
Your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake

“For anything else, please only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency – that’s a cardiac arrest, chest pain or breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, choking, or catastrophic bleeding.
“If the situation is not a life-threatening emergency, then it’s important that you use one of the many alternatives to 999, starting with the symptom checkers on our NHS 111 Wales website as well as your GP, pharmacist and Minor Injuries Unit.”

Health

Pressures remain high despite the end of ambulance ‘critical incident’

Published

3 days ago

January 1, 2025

Tom Sinclair

AMBULANCE service pressures remain high despite the end of a 48-hour critical incident declared by the Welsh Ambulance Service.

The incident, triggered by overwhelming demand and a backlog of 340 emergency calls on Monday, was formally stood down after significant strain on resources.

Judith Bryce, assistant director of operations, said: “While the critical incident is behind us, significant pressures remain, and it’s really important that the public play their part to protect our precious resources for those who need them most.”

Ambulance chiefs have urged the public to use the service responsibly, advising people to only dial 999 in life-threatening emergencies and consider alternatives such as NHS 111 Wales symptom checkers, pharmacists, minor injuries units, or GPs.

“For anyone under the weather after New Year’s Eve celebrations, consider what you can do at home to self-care, including for common ailments like coughs, sore throats, and diarrhoea,” Ms Bryce added.

She also warned the public to take extra care while yellow weather warnings for heavy rain and high winds remain in place, highlighting the risk of accidents on the road and injuries from slips, trips, and falls.

The pressures extended beyond the ambulance service, with health boards including Cwm Taf Morgannwg, Hywel Dda, Aneurin Bevan, and Cardiff and Vale reporting increased demand. These boards introduced mask-wearing measures last week due to rising flu cases.

Jason Killens, chief executive of the ambulance service, described the critical situation as “very rare” and stressed the importance of using emergency services wisely.

This is not the first time a critical incident has been declared during winter pressures. In December 2020, south Wales experienced a similar crisis, while an extraordinary incident was declared in 2023 after an ambulance waited over 28 hours outside a hospital.

The Welsh government acknowledged the ongoing pressures on urgent and emergency care services and urged the public to carefully consider their options before seeking care.

Health

Critical incident declared by Welsh Ambulance Service due to demand

Published

5 days ago

December 31, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A “CRITICAL INCIDENT” was declared by the Welsh Ambulance Service on Monday (Dec 30) evening due to significantly increased demand and extensive handover delays.

The service, which covers more than three million people across Wales, reported over 340 calls waiting to be answered at the time the incident was declared.

More than half of the ambulance vehicles were stuck outside hospitals waiting to hand over patients, resulting in some people waiting “many hours” for an ambulance and delays in answering emergency calls.

***Ambulances outside Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest (Image: Herald)***

Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, James Evans MS, said: “Another critical incident declared by the Welsh Ambulance Service with over 340 calls waiting, ambulances stuck outside hospitals, and patients waiting hours for care.

“This is not just a winter crisis, it is a symptom of long-term failures in Labour-run Wales. Patients and frontline workers deserve better.

“It’s time for real leadership to fix this problem once and for all.”

The public has been urged to call 999 only in the event of serious emergencies.

The Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust said it had implemented additional measures to ensure services could continue.

Stephen Sheldon, Head of Service, said: “It is very rare that we declare a critical incident, but with significant demand on our service and more than 90 ambulances waiting to hand over patients outside of hospital, our ability to help patients has been impacted.

“Regrettably, this means that some patients will wait longer for an ambulance to arrive and for their calls to be answered.

“For that, we are very sorry because this is not the level of service we want to provide.

“We understand that this is frustrating for patients, but can assure them that we are doing everything we can to relieve the pressure on our service.”

A critical incident is the highest alert level used by the NHS, allowing management to take immediate steps to create capacity.

Sheldon added: “The public can help by only calling 999 in the event of a life-threatening emergency – that’s a cardiac arrest, chest pain, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, choking, or catastrophic bleeding.

“If it’s not a life-threatening emergency, then it’s important you use one of the many alternatives to 999, starting with the symptom checkers on our NHS 111 Wales website, as well as your GP, pharmacist, and minor injuries unit.”

Earlier on Monday, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which operates Walsall Manor Hospital, also declared a critical incident due to rising numbers of people needing urgent and emergency hospital care, predominantly for respiratory conditions.

Health

Hospital visiting precautions in place ‘to protect patients’

Published

5 days ago

December 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

VISITORS to hospitals across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire are being asked to only attend if they are free of any potential flu-like symptoms, or any sickness or diarrhoea. Additionally, they may be requested to wear face masks before entry to certain wards or departments.

Seasonal flu and winter vomiting viruses are affecting patients on several wards with infection prevention and control actions being taken, as necessary.

Visitors are asked to only come to see their loved ones if they are free of any infections, to wash hands before leaving home and clean hands on arrival at the hospital/ward using the hand sanitiser. Visitors may also be asked to wear face masks/coverings on the ward/department they are visiting. Masks will be available at the hospital entrance or can be provided on affected wards.

There are additional restrictions in place that limit visitors to:

Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU) at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli. Please discuss individual patient visiting arrangements at AMAU with the nurse in charge.
This arrangement will be reviewed daily, and restrictions will be lifted as soon as possible. The health board’s website will be updated daily with details of wards with enhanced restrictions on visiting.

Janice Cole Williams, Assistant Director of Nursing at Hywel Dda University Health Board
said: “Within affected wards, all staff are wearing masks and visiting is limited at Prince Philip Hospital’s AMAU to help stop spread of infection.

“Our local community can help us avoid outbreaks of infection by not visiting family and friends in hospital if they are feeling unwell themselves.

“Annual flu vaccination is also undoubtedly the best way to protect against catching or spreading flu. Not only can it prevent you from becoming very unwell, it can also help reduce your risk of secondary infections such as pneumonia, which can be dangerous if you are clinically vulnerable.”

Vaccination centres are open, with no appointment needed today (Monday), until 5.30pm and tomorrow, Tuesday, December 31 for all people eligible for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. This includes children aged two years (on 31 August 2024) to those in year 11 who can access the nasal flu vaccine at the centres.

Drop in any time between 9.15am and 5.30pm to your nearest vaccination centre:

Aberaeron (Aberaeron Integrated Care Centre, Vicarage Hill, Aberaeron, SA46 0DY)
Llanelli (Unit 2a, Dafen Industrial Estate, Heol Cropin, SA14 8QW)
Neyland (Unit 1 Honeyborough Retail Park, SA73 1SE)
The following groups are eligible for vaccination:

Flu vaccination

Children aged two and three years on 31 August 2024 
Children in primary school from reception class to year 6 (inclusive)  
Children in secondary school from year 7 to year 11 (inclusive)   
People aged six months to 64 years in clinical risk groups   
People aged 65 years and older (age on 31 March 2024)   
Pregnant women  
Carers aged 16 and over 
People aged six months to 65 years who live with someone who has a weakened immune system   
People with a learning disability  
Frontline health and social care workers  
All staff working in care homes with regular client contact
Poultry workers at high risk
COVID-19 vaccination

People aged six months to 64 years with a long-term health condition (which includes pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system)
Residents in a care home for older adults
People aged 65 years and older (age on 31 March 2025)
Unpaid carers
Frontline health and social care workers
Staff working in care homes for older adults
If you have any questions about accessing the flu and/or COVID-19 vaccine, please phone the health board on 0300 303 8322 option 1 or email: [email protected]