Demand unrelenting as Welsh NHS going into winter hot
- In November there were 5,949 red (life threatening) calls to the ambulance service, 16.4% of all calls. An average of 198 immediately life-threatening calls were made each day, the highest on record. (Both figures are significantly higher than the same month last year).
- In October the number overall number of patient pathways increased from just over 801,300 to just over 802,100, the highest figure on record.
- For cancer services, 2,051 people started their first definitive treatment in October, 228 more than the previous month. The number of pathways closed following the patient being informed they did not have cancer increased to 15,594. Performance improved against the 62-day target in October, increasing to 58.0%, compared to 55.0% the previous month.
Responding to the NHS monthly performance statistics for October and November, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation Darren Hughes said:
“The NHS performance statistics for October and November show no let-up in demand for health and care services and therefore heightened pressure on staff. November saw the highest number of immediately life-threatening calls to the ambulance service on record, which has been steadily increasing over time. The ambulance service responded to the highest ever number of these calls within eight minutes.
“In diagnostics, therapies and cancer services, there have been considerable improvements compared to the same month last year.
“We know in recent weeks the number of people hospitalised with flu has been rising, which, alongside higher levels of Covid, RSV and Norovirus in the winter months, puts mounting pressure on services.
“NHS organisations have put a range of urgent and emergency care interventions in place, including rapid clinical screening of 999 callers and additional Community Welfare Responders trained to attend appropriate 999 calls in their community. Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB has, for example, created a Navigation Hub to reduce conveyances to emergency departments, treating and remotely monitoring patients in their own home where appropriate.
“Health boards and local authority partners are also working hard to improve patient flow through the hospital discharge process in line with the Cabinet Secretary’s 50-day challenge, which is showing positive signs of more people being able to leave hospital.
“We know that a proportion of A&E attendances could be better treated elsewhere, so it’s really important in a non-urgent situation the public use the free, around the clock 111 service this winter for fast, safe and easy access to the advice or treatment they need. You can also visit your local pharmacy for advice and treatment for a range of common ailments such as backache, chickenpox, conjunctivitis or a sore throat.
“As always, staff do their very best to deliver quality care in often very challenging circumstances. With reports of rising assaults on emergency workers, we ask that the public treat them with the respect they deserve.
“Unless we take prevention seriously with a whole-government approach to improving health and wellbeing, demand will continue to overwhelm health and care services, with staff and patients bearing the brunt."
