Written question WQ91502

We have been clear with Health Boards of our expectation for improved ambulance handover performance to free up ambulance capacity.

Through our national six goals for urgent and emergency care programme, we are investing in same day emergency care and extra community beds as well as integrated solutions with social care services to improve patient flow through hospitals; and tackle ambulance patient handover delays. Each Health Board has been allocated an additional £3m to deliver improvements in these areas.

Health Boards have also developed integrated ambulance improvement plans jointly with WAST. These plans are delivering a wide range of actions to support better management of 999 demand in the community, increased ambulance capacity, improved responsiveness to people with time sensitive complaints and aim to eradicate long ambulance patient handover delays.

I have directed the Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner to monitor delivery of plans intended to secure improvements through Emergency Ambulance Services Committee governance mechanisms.

I expect to see continuous improvement and will be monitoring the situation very closely over the coming weeks and months.