Key change in way ambulance service deals with some 999 calls to 'improve survival rates'

THE way the Welsh Ambulance Service deals with the most serious 999 calls is changing from today. The aim is to improve survival rates, say the Welsh Government.

- David Powell

A new purple category is being introduced for people suffering from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and the red category will be retained for the life-threatening emergencies, those at high risk of cardiac or respiratory arrest, including illnesses and trauma.

The changes are designed to ensure more people get the life-saving help they need from the ambulance service, while those who do not need an ambulance receive more appropriate care for their needs, say the Welsh Government.

They aim to help improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Wales, which are currently at less than five per cent.

The changes are being made in response to a recommendation from the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee, which concluded the existing ambulance response target is no longer appropriate or fit for purpose.

The new approach places a greater focus on outcomes than response times. Jeremy Miles MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, said: “We're taking decisive action to save more lives.

“Until now, cardiac arrests have been categorised in the same way as less critical problems like breathing difficulties.