Written question WQ99440
- Asked by
- Cai Parry-JonesReform
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 12 days
Question
Will the Cabinet Minister confirm whether the intelligent routing protocol, or any successor system for transferring 999 calls between ambulance services, remains in operation in Wales, and if so, what safeguards are in place to ensure patient safety?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care (Mabon ap Gwynfor)
The Intelligent Routing Platform (IRP) remains in operation across Wales. It is a UK‑wide system used by ambulance services, including the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, to provide additional resilience at times of exceptional pressure, helping to ensure that 999 calls are answered as quickly as possible. The IRP does not change how ambulances are dispatched, and responsibility for the patient’s care always remains with the local ambulance service.