Getty ImagesWelsh Ambulance Service chiefs have urged the public to “drink sensibly” on New Year’s Day to help reduce demand on emergency services which are suffering from a backlog of 340 calls on Monday.
Jason Cullen, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, made the plea after the service. Called a critical incident.
In addition, more than half of the trust’s ambulances were waiting outside hospitals to hand over patients.
Mr Killens told the public to use the service “sensibly” and only call during a “genuine emergency”, adding that it was designed for extra pressure and 999 calls.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Killins said delays in urgent and emergency care departments prevented ambulance staff from handing over patients.
He said one of the reasons for the pressure on the health system is due to winter viruses such as flu and covid, along with other factors.
“The pressure on urgent and emergency care in the NHS has been well documented. It is a challenge here in Wales as it is in the rest of the UK,” he said.
Mr. Killens said other factors also played a role in stressing the system.
“This is due to a number of factors associated with patients who are medically fit for discharge not being able to return to the community due to pressures on adult social care,” he said. said
However, he added that while the pressure continued throughout the night, the number of waiting ambulances was slightly less.
“As we get through this morning and we see the number of calls we’re getting throughout the day as we normally do, we’ll see that same pressure situation build up today. ”
It apologized for making patients wait “too long” but said plans were in place to manage the backlog of calls.
“We have doctors, nurses and paramedics who consult over the phone and manage less serious patients differently,” he said. So that we can respond to these sicker patients as soon as possible,” he said.
Mr Killens also thanked the staff and volunteers for their work during this critical incident.
On Monday, the Welsh Ambulance Service described the situation as “very rare”.
Addressing. Radio Wales Breakfast, Declaring a critical incident “signals to the rest of the NHS that we have a problem, we are under extreme pressure and we need help”, Mr Klein explained.
Dr Rowena Christmas, chair of the Royal College of GPs in Wales, said the situation was worrying and had been going on for many years.
He said: “The amount of acute respiratory illnesses we are seeing at the moment is extraordinary.”
A critic The event was also announced in December 2020.Due to high demand, particularly in South East Wales.
But one 2023 was declared as an extraordinary event. After an ambulance spent more than 28 hours outside the hospital.
High levels of demand for urgent and emergency care services across Wales continue this winter, the Welsh Government said.
A spokesman said: “We are urging people to only call 999 in the event of a life-threatening emergency and to consider carefully where to go for care. For urgent care needs, NHS 111 Wales A 24/7 online or telephone service can be accessed for advice and guidance.
“The increase in flu cases has added to the pressure over Christmas and has resulted in measures being taken by health boards, including prevention and control measures.”