Written question WQ83761
- Asked by
- James EvansConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
Will the Minister provide an update on the progress of the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee and Welsh Ambulance Service to develop a rural ambulance model to reflect the unique challenges facing the Brecon and Radnorshire constituency to ensure equitable performance and improve clinical outcomes?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
Further to the information I provided to you on 8 September regarding provision of ambulance services in the Powys Teaching Health Board area, progress continues to be made by The Emergency Ambulance Services Committee (EASC) and Welsh Ambulance Services Trust (WAST) to support development of a rural ambulance model.
Members of EASC including the Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner and the EASC Chair recently attended a Powys Teaching Health Board development session and the Performance Board Sub-Group to progress actions around ambulance responsiveness and improved patient outcomes. My officials will continue to monitor progress with testing of the model through monthly assurance meetings with EASC.
As an update on the investment in recruitment I outlined to you in September, staff numbers will increase in Powys by around 30 whole time equivalents by the end of this financial year. This will increase the number of frontline staff available across the Health Board area to respond to incidents more quickly. EASC and WAST are currently planning what recruitment looks like for 2021/22 to meet demand.
Rosters are currently being designed through the WAST roster review in partnership with staff, with implementation to begin in the new financial year to ensure the right resources are in the right place, at the right time to respond to patients.
We remain committed to ensuring there is equity of access to health and care services which are safe, sustainable and deliver the best possible clinical outcomes for communities across all parts of Wales.