Wales Reviews Ambulance Response Time Targets

Wales' ambulance service is set to review its response time targets for life-threatening 'red' calls, which have not been met for over four years. Health Secretary Jeremy Miles announced plans for a clinician-led evaluation of the appropriateness of the current target, which mandates that 65% of such calls be answered within eight minutes. Recent figures indicate that only 50.4% of red calls were responded to within this timeframe in October, amidst an increasing volume of urgent calls. Critics argue that rather than merely reviewing targets, immediate actions should be taken to improve response times. The review will consider evolving patient needs and the ongoing pressures faced by the ambulance service, including delays caused by hospital handovers. This scrutiny comes as the Welsh population ages and health issues become more prevalent, exacerbating existing challenges in emergency healthcare.