Minister announces ambulances overhaul
FOLLOWING the heart-wrenching incident that led to the tragic loss of Charlotte Burston, a Llanteg mother who passed away after significant delays in ambulance services on Christmas Day, the Welsh Government has detailed a comprehensive plan to enhance the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST). The Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan, expressed deep condolences to the family and underscored the government’s commitment to transforming ambu lance responsiveness across Wales.
Charlotte’s ordeal began with chest pains on Christmas Day, prompting her teenage daughter to contact the ambulance service. With no ambulance in sight even after a second call, her grandfather, Mr. Laye, made a desperate journey from Clunderwen to Charlotte’s home, only to find her struggling to breathe. Despite his efforts and a subsequent 999 call informing him of a 1.5 to 2-hour wait, Charlotte succumbed to her condition at Morriston Hospital on New Year’s Eve.
In her letter, Minister Morgan extended her sincere condolences to the Burston family, emphasising the importance of learning from such incidents to prevent future tragedies. Recognising the critical role of the complaints process in driving service improvements, she encouraged the bereaved family to engage with WAST’s complaints mechanism. The minister assured that their feedback is crucial for the health service to identify shortcomings and implement necessary reforms.
Addressing the systemic issues plaguing the Welsh Ambulance Services, Minister Morgan outlined a series of measures aimed at improving the efficiency and responsiveness of ambulance services. The government’s immediate actions include optimising the Clinical Support Desk to manage a significant portion of calls remotely and boosting ambulance capacity through controlled increases in staff overtime. The Connected Support Cymru initiative is another innovative approach, providing early assessment to patients and supporting remote clinical decision-making.
Furthermore, the Welsh Government has allocated an additional £27 million to ensure more accessible and appropriate care for patients. This investment will support the creation of same-day emergency care centers and improve patient flow through hospitals in partnership with local authorities, thereby alleviating the pressure on ambulance services and enabling quicker community responses.
This announcement comes in the wake of Pembrokeshire coroner, Mark Layton’s reassurances to Mr. Laye that the concerns regarding ambulance response times are being taken seriously. The ongoing inquest into Charlotte’s death highlights the need for a comprehensive review of the ambulance service’s procedures and the urgency grading of calls.
Minister Morgan’s response to the tragedy reflects a commitment to overhauling the Welsh ambulance system.
By addressing both immediate and longterm challenges, the Welsh Government is promising to ensure that no other family experiences the grief and despair faced by the Burston family, marking a pivotal step towards enhancing healthcare and emergency response services in Wales.