Decision details

Debate: The Professor McClelland Review of Welsh Ambulance Services

Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly

Status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Decision:

The item started at 16.19

NDM5230 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the publication of Professor Siobhan McClelland’s Review of Welsh Ambulance Services;

2. Notes the 12 recommendations proposed by Professor McClelland;

3. Recognises the need to:

a) agree a clinical vision for Welsh Ambulance Services;

b) give time for any future model of ambulance service delivery to mature.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point 1 and renumber accordingly:

Notes with concern that:

a) despite holding nine reviews in six years, Wales still has the lowest response times in the UK;

b) the all-Wales eight minute target has not been achieved for the past ten months;

c) latest statistics show Wales' ambulances have failed to meet national response time targets for life-threatening calls in every local authority area;

d) the 95% target for the admission, transfer or discharge of new patients in emergency care facilities within four hours of arrival has never been met;

e) ambulances have spent almost 55,000 hours waiting outside Welsh hospitals in the last six months;

f) the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust's latest performance report shows it only achieved 56.9% of patient handovers within 15 minutes, against the national target of 95%.

Amendment 1 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Voting on the motion and the remaining amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

Amendment 2 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Delete sub-point 3b) and replace with:

‘b) publish a clear timetable for the delivery of improvements to the Welsh Ambulance Service.’

A vote was taken on Amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

22

5

28

55

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new sub-point 3b) and renumber accordingly:

establish a clear timetable for the agreement and implementation of a new model of ambulance service delivery;

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

55

0

0

55

Amendment 3 was agreed.

Amendment 4 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Recognises that the systematic failings in unscheduled care significantly impacts on the performance of the WAST and therefore adversely effects outcomes for patients.

A vote was taken on Amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

55

0

0

55

Amendment 4 was agreed.

Amendment 5 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that in March 2013, only 53% of Category A calls received a response within 8 minutes, the lowest figure since December 2010 and that the Welsh Government’s 65% target for Category A calls has not been hit for ten successive months.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

55

0

0

55

Amendment 5 was agreed.

Amendment 6 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes that there have been at least 13 reviews or audits into the delivery of services by the Welsh Ambulance Service since 2006 and regrets that the outcome of these reviews have not been fully implemented.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

55

0

0

55

Amendment 6 was agreed.

Amendment 7 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to take swift action to address the issues raised in the review and ensure any future model of the ambulance service is structured in the best interests of patients and staff.

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

55

0

0

55

Amendment 7 was agreed.

Amendment 8 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the Welsh Ambulance Service receives appropriate funding to ensure an efficient and robust ambulance service.

A vote was taken on Amendment 8:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

55

0

0

55

Amendment 8 was agreed.

Amendment 9 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to develop additional targets with a greater focus on patient experience and outcomes and to publish the Welsh Ambulance Trust performance report including the monthly executive key performance scorecard.

A vote was taken on Amendment 9:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

46

9

0

55

Amendment 9 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5230 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1 Notes with concern that:

a) despite holding nine reviews in six years, Wales still has the lowest response times in the UK;

b) the all-Wales eight minute target has not been achieved for the past ten months;

c) latest statistics show Wales' ambulances have failed to meet national response time targets for life-threatening calls in every local authority area;

d) the 95% target for the admission, transfer or discharge of new patients in emergency care facilities within four hours of arrival has never been met;

e) ambulances have spent almost 55,000 hours waiting outside Welsh hospitals in the last six months;

f) the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust's latest performance report shows it only achieved 56.9% of patient handovers within 15 minutes, against the national target of 95%

2. Notes the publication of Professor Siobhan McClelland’s Review of Welsh Ambulance Services;

3. Notes the 12 recommendations proposed by Professor McClelland;

4. Recognises the need to:

a) agree a clinical vision for Welsh Ambulance Services;

b) establish a clear timetable for the agreement and implementation of a new model of ambulance service delivery;

c) give time for any future model of ambulance service delivery to mature.

5. Recognises that the systematic failings in unscheduled care significantly impacts on the performance of the WAST and therefore adversely effects outcomes for patients.

6. Notes that in March 2013, only 53% of Category A calls received a response within 8 minutes, the lowest figure since December 2010 and that the Welsh Government’s 65% target for Category A calls has not been hit for ten successive months.

7. Notes that there have been at least 13 reviews or audits into the delivery of services by the Welsh Ambulance Service since 2006 and regrets that the outcome of these reviews have not been fully implemented.

8. Calls on the Welsh Government to take swift action to address the issues raised in the review and ensure any future model of the ambulance service is structured in the best interests of patients and staff.

9. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the Welsh Ambulance Service receives appropriate funding to ensure an efficient and robust ambulance service.

10. Calls on the Welsh Government to develop additional targets with a greater focus on patient experience and outcomes and to publish the Welsh Ambulance Trust performance report including the monthly executive key performance scorecard.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

55

0

0

55

The motion as amended was agreed.

Publication date: 07/05/2013

Date of decision: 07/05/2013

Decided at meeting: 07/05/2013 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly