TENBY: King’s medal for the Welsh Ambulance Service trailblazer — and Wales’ first female Consultant Paramedic

A Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic who became the first woman in Wales to reach the rank of Consultant Paramedic has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Paula Jeffery, 56, who lives near Tenby with her husband Rob (QAM), has been awarded the King’s Ambulance Service Medal for distinguished service.

Her career has spanned nearly four decades — and began a long way from the ambulance service.

Mrs Jeffery started out 37 years ago in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, qualifying as a nurse and working in emergency and minor injury departments before joining the non-emergency patient transport service.

Her rise through the Welsh Ambulance Service began with a modest 16-hour-a-week contract on the patient transport service.

From there she became an instructor at the National Ambulance Training College, before progressing through the urgent care service, emergency medical technician, paramedic and advanced prescribing roles.

She was then appointed the first female Consultant Paramedic in Wales.

Along the way, Mrs Jeffery established the first versions of advanced practice models in primary care, secondary care and GP out-of-hours services.

She also led the Welsh Ambulance Service to become the first UK ambulance service to introduce independent prescribing — work that now underpins the national framework for advanced paramedic practice across Wales.

Colleagues credit her leadership with transforming clinical practice, including the introduction of Penthrox pain relief for staff and volunteers to treat injured patients in the community, and the creation of a Clinical Navigator Team to speed up emergency responses.

Mrs Jeffery said she had been stunned by the award.

“Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am never speechless, but on this occasion, I was genuinely lost for words,” she said.

“It is such a tremendous honour, and I really do feel privileged to have been nominated by colleagues. I work with incredible teams in WAST, and knowing that someone took the time to make an application on my behalf makes me feel very proud.”

Emma Wood, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said the trust was immensely proud.

“Over nearly four decades of dedicated service, Paula has exemplified outstanding leadership,” she said. “She has consistently inspired those around her with her passion, pioneering spirit and dedication, striving to deliver exceptional care for the people of Wales.”

Greg Lloyd, the trust’s assistant director of clinical delivery, said Mrs Jeffery’s legacy was one of “innovation, excellence, and lasting impact”, praising her trailblazing contributions and transformative leadership.

Mrs Jeffery is among more than a dozen people from across Swansea Bay and Carmarthenshire — and the wider region — recognised in this year’s honours, with the full local list in our round-up.

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PARAMEDIC JOBS: Welsh Government to hold emergency summit after 82 newly qualified paramedics left with no posts

The Welsh Government has confirmed it will hold an emergency summit this month over the lack of jobs for newly qualified paramedics, after figures revealed 82 graduates but no posts for them to fill.

The admission came in a written answer from the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, Mabon ap Gwynfor, who acknowledged there are no newly qualified paramedic roles available this year.

It is the latest turn in a crisis Swansea Bay News has been following since the spring, when paramedic students at Swansea University were told there were no NHS jobs for them in Wales — with some advised to look as far afield as Canada and Australia.

Swansea University is the main training centre for paramedics in the region. When Swansea Bay News reported on the crisis in the spring, around 61 of the 67 students due to qualify this summer were based at Swansea, with the remaining six at Wrexham University.

The minister was responding to a written question from Welsh Conservative Darren Millar, who asked how the government was working with the Welsh Ambulance Service to ensure newly qualified paramedics could be hired this year.

In his reply, Mr ap Gwynfor said there were 82 graduates and no available newly qualified paramedic posts within the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.

He described the situation as a “temporary mismatch” between the number of graduates and the number of funded vacancies, driven by financial constraints and a redesign of ambulance services.

The minister also said the problem was not unique to Wales, pointing to a restriction in available paramedic posts across the UK.

Despite the absence of paramedic vacancies, the government said 62 of the 82 graduates had secured Emergency Medical Technician roles — lower-banded posts — within the ambulance service instead.

It added that 42 of the graduates had been allocated training courses in September and October, with a further 20 placed on a reserve list.

The government confirmed a stakeholder summit would be held in June to consider immediate steps to support graduates who have not yet found a post, and to look at longer-term ways of stopping the situation from happening again.

The shortage echoes a parallel crisis among student nurses, who weeks earlier warned they faced unemployment after 2,300 hours of unpaid training as Band 5 posts dried up — even as health boards in the region had spent years recruiting nurses from overseas.

Natasha Asghar, the Welsh Conservatives’ shadow health minister, welcomed the summit but said it offered little comfort to graduates who had expected a paramedic job to be waiting for them.

She said vague references to financial pressures and service redesign were “not good enough,” and called for a proper explanation of how the situation had arisen.

“We need a proper explanation of how we got to this extraordinary situation where we have newly qualified paramedics, who are much-needed in the service, but there aren’t suitable jobs for them,” she said.

She added that the situation was hard to justify at a time when efforts should be focused on cutting waiting times, ending corridor care in A&E units and improving patient care.

The government has said it is working with the ambulance service, Health Education and Improvement Wales, universities and other stakeholders to better align training with employment.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Welsh Government under pressure over paramedic recruitment shortfall
Last year’s warning that this was coming — when only 20 of 67 paramedic graduates were offered posts.

India recruitment trip attracts 100 nurses to Morriston Hospital
Swansea Bay ran a major overseas drive to fill the Band 5 vacancies domestic graduates are now told don’t exist.

Welsh NHS waiting lists rise again but ambulance handover times improve
The wider pressure on emergency care that makes turning away qualified paramedics harder to justify.

CARMARTHEN: ‘I woke up seven days later and was told what had happened’ — the job centre staff who saved a man’s life with a defibrillator they’d never used before

Stephen Booth walked into Carmarthen Job Centre Plus in March last year.

He never expected to leave in an ambulance.

As he stepped out of the lift, security officer Chris Manfield noticed something was wrong.

Seconds later, Stephen collapsed.

He had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest – one of the most serious medical emergencies a person can face. Without immediate intervention, he would not survive.

Manfield had recently completed basic life support training and didn’t hesitate. He called 999, began CPR and shouted to colleague Endaf Davies to fetch the defibrillator from the entrance.

“I instinctively knew he was in cardiac arrest,” Manfield said. “So I called 999, followed the call handler’s instructions and began CPR.”

For Davies, a Job Centre service manager, this was his first cardiac arrest emergency – and he had never received CPR or defibrillator training in his life.

He grabbed the defibrillator, opened the lid and simply followed the voice instructions.

“I’m still amazed today, just as I was then, at how easy it was to use,” Davies said.

Together, the two men performed CPR for more than five minutes and delivered two defibrillator shocks until Welsh Ambulance Service Senior Paramedic Stephen Bowles arrived and took over.

Stephen was blue-lighted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, where he spent the next two weeks. He woke up seven days after the cardiac arrest with no memory of what had happened.

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“I don’t remember anything about that day,” Stephen said. “I woke up in Morriston Hospital seven days later and was told what had happened.”

He had one stent fitted and underwent numerous tests before being discharged.

Save a Life Cymru recently reunited Stephen with the people who helped save him – including Manfield, Davies and paramedic Bowles – where he presented them with Bystander Commendation Certificates.

“I was later told I’d received excellent CPR, which was vital to my recovery,” Stephen said. “I would encourage everyone to learn these lifesaving skills.”

Bowles said meeting cardiac arrest survivors was always special for ambulance crews, who rarely get the chance to see the outcome of their work. “I think he was glad too, as I could explain from a medical perspective what had happened to him that day,” he said.

Julie Starling, Clinical Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Programme Manager for Wales, said bystander intervention was the only way to increase survival rates. “We want to build a nation where people feel confident to call 999, start CPR and use a defibrillator when someone collapses,” she said.

A cardiac arrest happens without warning. The person collapses, becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally. If you see this happen: call 999, start CPR and use a defibrillator if one is available – they are designed to be used by anyone, with no training required.

Anyone who has been affected by a cardiac arrest and needs support can visit resus.org.uk/public-resource/support-after-cardiac-arrest.

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SWANSEA: Nearly £10m of public money spent training paramedics who are now being told to look for work abroad

Paramedic students at Swansea University have been told they face no job prospects in Wales this year after the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed a complete freeze on hiring newly qualified paramedics — with some students advised to seek work as far away as Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Around 61 of the 67 students expected to graduate with paramedic science degrees this summer are based at Swansea University, with the remaining six at Wrexham University. Their training has been heavily subsidised by Healthcare Education and Improvement Wales, part of NHS Wales, with the cost per student estimated at around £150,000 — meaning the public bill for this year’s cohort runs to approximately £10 million.

Despite that investment, the Welsh Ambulance Service has told students there will be no newly qualified paramedic posts available to them in Wales this year, citing what it described as “financial and operational issues.”

One Swansea University student — who asked not to be named for fear of affecting his future employment — told the BBC he had been ringing ambulance services across the UK but found very few posts anywhere. He said he was hoping a paramedic job might be available for him in Canada.

Another student, Alice — not her real name — said she was devastated. “It’s an amazing career, it’s so unfortunate that we don’t have the opportunity to join it anymore,” she said.

A third, Alex — also not their real name — said they had fully intended to stay in Wales after qualifying. “I had full intention of working in Wales and serving the Welsh communities. None of us will have the opportunity to serve anywhere in Wales as a paramedic,” they said.

One student described the situation as “crazy and shortsighted.” Their training has included months of placements, sometimes more than 100 miles from home, across different parts of Wales.

As Swansea Bay News previously reported, this is not the first time the recruitment pipeline has broken down. Last year, only around 20 of 67 graduates were initially offered newly qualified paramedic posts, with some pushed into lower-banded Emergency Medical Technician roles instead. This year, the situation has deteriorated further — there are no paramedic posts at all.

Students also told the BBC that a pattern of “retire and return” — schemes that allow experienced paramedics to retire, access their pensions, and then be re-employed — has contributed to the workforce pressures blocking new entrants. A re-grading process within the service has also been cited as a factor.

Despite the bursary agreement that would normally require students to remain in Wales after qualifying, Healthcare Education and Improvement Wales has now released this year’s cohort from that obligation, effectively telling them they are free to seek work wherever they can find it.

Carl Kneeshaw, speaking for the Welsh Ambulance Service, acknowledged the impact on students. “We know this will be deeply disappointing for those hoping to start their careers with us, especially after the time, effort and commitment they have invested in their training,” he said. The service said it would encourage graduates to consider Emergency Medical Technician roles — which it expected to recruit to during 2026 — or posts with other ambulance services across the UK.

The Welsh Government said it was “working closely” with the ambulance service, Healthcare Education and Improvement Wales and the universities to address the challenges and support graduates. A Welsh Labour spokesperson said the party was “committed to ensuring the NHS in Wales has the staff it needs now and in the future.”

That response drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, called it “a staggering waste of both talent and taxpayers’ money” at a time when ambulance response times remain far too long and patients are waiting in pain. Dr Gwyn Williams, Plaid Cymru’s candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe, pointed to the estimated £150,000 cost per student and said the situation amounted to “almost £10m being written off.”

The Welsh Conservatives described it as “a clear failure of workforce planning” that was “completely unacceptable.”

Swansea University said it had been made aware of the situation and its immediate focus was on supporting affected students. A university spokesperson said it was “liaising closely” with the ambulance service and Healthcare Education and Improvement Wales to understand the impact and explore any possible alternative solutions.

The freeze comes as NHS Wales continues to face serious pressure across emergency services. As Swansea Bay News has reported, Welsh A&E departments have been linked to nearly 1,000 deaths connected to excessive waiting times — with ambulance response times a key factor in the delays that lead to patients deteriorating before reaching hospital care.

For the students approaching the end of three years of demanding clinical training, the human cost of the situation is clear. They trained to serve Welsh communities in some of the most pressured and critical moments of people’s lives. For now, Wales is turning them away.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Welsh Government under pressure over paramedic recruitment shortfall
Last year’s warning that this was coming — when only 20 of 67 graduates were offered posts. This year, the number is zero.

A&E crisis: Nearly 1,000 deaths in Wales linked to 12-hour waits as calls grow for urgent action
The wider emergency care crisis that makes turning away newly qualified paramedics even harder to justify.

160 NEW VEHICLES: Inside the £23m blitz to modernise Wales’ ambulance fleet and slash response times

The funding, announced by the Welsh Government, will provide a massive fleet upgrade for the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust. The new rollout includes:

• 50 new emergency ambulances
• 40 single responder vehicles
• 67 Non-Emergency Patient Transport Vehicles
• 3 specialist Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) vehicles

Faster, Greener, More Reliable

The investment is part of an ongoing modernisation programme to replace aging vehicles with models that meet the latest emissions standards. As the service covers over 8,000 square miles, including the challenging rural terrain of Carmarthenshire and the busy streets of Swansea, reliability is seen as the top priority.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles, said:

“When someone dials 999, they need to know that help is on the way. This investment ensures our ambulance service has the modern, reliable fleet it needs to be there for people across Wales.”

High-Tech Future: Drones and AI

Beyond new vans, the service is also embracing “smarter care” technology. Trials are currently underway for defibrillator drones to reach rural areas, while AI is being explored to support 999 call handlers during peak periods.

Chris Turley, Executive Director of Finance for the Trust, added:

“Modern ambulances are more dependable, better equipped to support patient care and provide a safer, more comfortable working environment for our staff. We’re also proud to be playing our part in reducing our environmental footprint.”

The new fleet will feature hybrid engines and solar panels as part of a commitment to a “greener” future for the national health service.

Is the ambulance service improving in your area? Let us know in the comments below.

Wales Ambulance Service warns of rising assaults as volunteer relives sexual attack by patient

Emily Hilton, a 24‑year‑old Community First Responder, was grabbed and forcibly pulled in for a kiss while attending a 999 call on a busy Cardiff road. She says the attack “completely knocked” her confidence and almost made her quit volunteering altogether.

Although the incident happened in Cardiff, the Welsh Ambulance Service says assaults like this are happening across Wales, including in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire — and are becoming a growing threat to frontline staff and volunteers.

‘I thought he had a knife’

Emily was the first to arrive after multiple calls reporting a man had fallen from his wheelchair. As she tried to assess him, he became verbally abusive, threatened to “knock her lights out”, then grabbed her by the neck and tried to kiss her.

Emily said:

“It completely knocked my confidence. In my three years of volunteering, no-one’s ever done anything like that to me before.”

She said the moment he grabbed her was terrifying.

She added:

“He pulled me in, forehead‑to‑forehead. He had a vape in his hand and for a split second I thought it was a knife. It all happened so quickly.”

The ambulance crew arrived moments later and police were called.

Attacker convicted — but concerns remain

Craig Burgess, 48, from Cardiff, was arrested and charged with sexual assault. He was found guilty in May 2025 and sentenced last week to a community order, a fine, compensation and five years on the sex offenders register.

The Welsh Ambulance Service says the case highlights the risks faced by emergency workers and volunteers across Wales — including Community First Responders who operate in communities throughout Swansea Bay.

‘She stepped forward to help — and was assaulted’

Emma Wood, Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said:

“Any assault on an emergency worker is unacceptable, but what makes Emily’s experience particularly shocking is that she was volunteering her time, unpaid, to support her community.”

She said the Trust would always seek prosecution for those who harm staff or volunteers.

PC James Paget, South Wales Police, said:

“The psychological and physical effects of an assault of this nature can be long‑lasting. No‑one should have to go to work fearing they will be treated in this way.”

Wales‑wide campaign urges respect for emergency workers

The incident comes as the Joint Emergency Services Group continues its With Us, Not Against Us campaign, launched to tackle rising violence against emergency workers in Wales.

Community First Responders — including dozens who volunteer across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Llanelli, Ammanford and rural Carmarthenshire — are often the first on scene at 999 calls and face the same risks as paid staff.

Emily says she returned to volunteering thanks to strong support from colleagues, but remains more cautious on calls.

She said:

“I did come back, but I’m definitely more mindful now about the risks.”

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Swansea ambulance manager honoured in King’s New Year Honours as Welsh Ambulance Service staff recognised

Locality Manager Cath John, who began her career in 1995, has been awarded the King’s Ambulance Service Medal (KAM) for distinguished service. Emergency Ambulance Practitioner Nigel Jones and Operational Team Leader Dean Caldwell have both been appointed MBE for their voluntary and charitable work.

Welsh Ambulance Service Chief Executive Emma Wood said the trio represented the very best of the service.

Emma Wood said:

“We’re incredibly proud of colleagues who go that extra mile for patients and their communities. These awards recognise the hard work and dedication given by Nigel, Dean and Cath over the years.”

Swansea’s Cath John receives King’s Ambulance Service Medal

Cath, who is based in Swansea, started out in non‑emergency patient transport before qualifying as an Emergency Medical Technician in 1999 and later as a Paramedic in 2004. She spent 11 years on the frontline before moving into leadership roles, including Clinical Team Leader and Operations Manager during the Covid‑19 pandemic.

She became a Locality Manager in 2021.

Cath John said:

“I’ve been with the Welsh Ambulance Service for over 30 years and I love what I do. Working here has given me so many opportunities and allowed me to work alongside some really special and dedicated people.”

Cath, 54, only discovered she was receiving the KAM when she returned from annual leave and spotted the notification buried in her inbox.

Cath John said:

“At first I didn’t know whether it was real… it only sank in when I saw my name on the official list.”

MBE for volunteer who has helped disaster zones across the world

Emergency Ambulance Practitioner Nigel Jones, from Monmouthshire, has spent decades volunteering alongside his full‑time work — from supporting veterans and mountain rescue teams to deploying with humanitarian charity REACT in disaster‑hit regions.

His voluntary work has taken him from UK Covid Nightingale hospitals to bush fires in Australia, earthquake zones in Turkey and two deployments to Ukraine.

He was volunteering in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa when he learned he had been awarded an MBE.

Nigel Jones said:

“It was a complete surprise… I never began volunteering to get recognition, but it’s a tremendous feeling to be considered in the King’s New Year Honours.”

Nigel has also completed ten marathons for charity, raising more than £10,000.

Third honour for long‑serving community volunteer

Operational Team Leader Dean Caldwell has also been appointed MBE for decades of voluntary service across South Wales — including years with Bro Radio, the RNLI at Barry Dock, HM Coastguard Search & Rescue, and Welsh Amateur Boxing.

Dean Caldwell said:

“I am truly honoured and overwhelmed. Each role has allowed me to contribute to the wellbeing and safety of others, and I accept this MBE with immense pride.”

National praise for “the very best of Britain”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised all those recognised in this year’s list.

The Prime Minister said:

“This year’s Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.”

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Ystalyfera cardiac arrest survivor reunited with lifesaving neighbours and ambulance crews

In March, Kealey Reilly was woken by a sound she first thought was snoring. Her husband Oliver, 38, was in fact experiencing agonal breathing — a sign of cardiac arrest.

Realising something was seriously wrong, Kealey dialled 999 while the couple’s 12‑year‑old daughter Florence ran next door to alert neighbours Hannah and Matthew Miers, both off‑duty police officers trained in CPR.

The couple took over chest compressions, assisted by another neighbour — a retired auxiliary nurse — while a public access defibrillator, installed just months earlier and located 120 metres away, was retrieved and used.

Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic Vikki Davies and emergency medical technicians Colin Read, Jamie Higgins and Gavin Treseder soon arrived, with advanced critical care support provided by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) in a Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopter.

Oliver was taken to Morriston Hospital by ambulance, supported by the EMRTS crew, and spent three weeks in an induced coma.

“I owe my life to Kealey, Florence, and our neighbours Hannah and Matthew,” said Oliver. “Kealey’s quick reaction, Florence’s bravery in seeking help, and the strength shown by Hannah and Matthew were extraordinary. You’ve allowed me to be here today for my children and for that I will be eternally grateful.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service has formally recognised Hannah and Matthew Miers with a Chief Executive’s Commendation for their actions.

Kealey said doctors had warned Oliver might never walk or talk again, but he had defied all expectations.

“We were extremely lucky; everything was in place for him to survive. Not many people can say they’ve saved someone’s life, let alone their neighbour’s. I’m extremely grateful to Hannah and Matthew — they absolutely deserve this recognition.”

Carl Powell, Clinical Lead for Acute Care at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said Oliver’s survival showed the importance of CPR and defibrillators.

“Your chances of surviving a cardiac arrest are significantly improved if there are people trained in CPR and a defibrillator is brought to the scene. I would urge everyone to learn CPR and sign up to the GoodSAM app in Wales to help create a nation of life savers.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service, Save a Life Cymru and the Resuscitation Council UK have partnered to provide tailored support for cardiac arrest survivors, their families and bystanders, including resources for young people and co‑survivors.

#ambulance #cardiacArrest #CPR #defibrillators #EMRTS #MorristonHospital #ResuscitationCouncilUK #SaveALifeCymru #WalesAirAmbulance #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust #Ystalyfera

Welsh Government under pressure over paramedic recruitment shortfall

Concerns have been raised over a major shortfall in paramedic recruitment in Wales, with just 20 of this year’s 67 graduates set to be hired by the Welsh Ambulance Service — despite the service requesting 86 new recruits through Welsh Government funding.

The figures, revealed by Swansea Liberal Democrat Councillor and Senedd candidate Sam Bennett, have sparked criticism from opposition parties who say the decision undermines efforts to improve ambulance response times and risks wasting public investment in training.

Bennett, who is standing for Gŵyr Abertawe (Swansea West & Gower), said:

“We cannot afford to lose these highly skilled professionals, especially not at a time when the NHS is under this much pressure.”

“It is shocking that despite funding 87 paramedic students, less than half will be recruited. That so few are to be hired is a scandal.”

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling on the Welsh Labour Government to urgently intervene and create more posts to absorb the newly qualified paramedics.

According to the latest performance data, 51% of red calls — the most life-threatening emergencies — are not being met within target times, while 33% of amber calls, which include heart attacks and strokes, are taking longer than an hour to respond to.

Party leader Jane Dodds MS added:

“The NHS is our top priority. Having already paid for the training, it’s a no-brainer that the Welsh Government should seize this opportunity to give paramedics more support and resources.”

The Welsh Government has not yet issued a formal response to the figures, but Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles has reportedly confirmed the numbers in correspondence with the party.

The Welsh Ambulance Service has faced sustained pressure in recent years, with staff describing the job as “soul-destroying” amid long delays, staffing shortages, and rising demand.

#ambulance #JaneDoddsMS #paramedicRecruitment #paramedics #SamBennett #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust #WelshGovernment #WelshLabour #WelshLiberalDemocrats

Welsh NHS waiting lists rise again — but ambulance handover times show marked improvement

The number of people waiting more than two years for NHS treatment in Wales has risen again, reaching 10,300 pathways in May — up 6.5% from the previous month. The overall waiting list now stands at 796,100 pathways, equivalent to nearly one in four people in Wales.

The figures have prompted criticism from opposition parties, with Welsh Conservatives accusing the Labour-led government of failing to meet its own targets. Shadow Health Secretary James Evans MS said the latest data “proves Labour’s health strategy is failing” and called for a health emergency to be declared to focus resources on reducing excessive waits.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS also condemned the figures, describing them as “a damning indictment of 25 years of Labour mismanagement in Wales.”

“These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet, they are real people left to suffer in pain, anxiety and fear. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are clear, we won’t solve the crisis in our NHS without first addressing the crisis in social care. That means ending bed blocking and also investing properly in primary care and GP services, ensuring illness is caught and treated early, not when it becomes an emergency.”

Ambulance handover times improve at Morriston and Royal Glamorgan hospitals

Despite the rise in long waits, the Welsh Government has pointed to significant improvements in ambulance patient handover times, particularly at Morriston Hospital in Swansea, where delays fell by 70% in June compared to May. At Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, handover times dropped by 87%, with nearly three-quarters of patients transferred within 15 minutes.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles, who visited Royal Glamorgan on Thursday, said the figures show that “our focus on improving ambulance patient handover performance is working,” and praised staff for their efforts.

A national taskforce has been established to tackle handover delays across Wales, aiming to free up ambulance crews and improve emergency department flow. The Welsh Ambulance Service also introduced a new purple category for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests on 1 July, alongside revised triage categories for other urgent conditions.

Cancer treatment and emergency care pressures

In May, more than 1,900 people started cancer treatment, and over 14,200 were told they did not have cancer, as performance against the 62-day target improved to 61.3%. However, emergency departments remain under pressure, with June recording the third-highest daily attendances on record. More than 10,000 patients waited over 12 hours in A&E — still far from meeting government targets.

Miles acknowledged the setback in long waits but said they are now 85% lower than the peak, and expressed confidence that the next set of figures will show renewed progress.

Local health board variation

According to Welsh Government data, Swansea Bay and Powys health boards currently have no pathways waiting longer than two years, while Hywel Dda and Aneurin Bevan each have fewer than 300 such cases. In contrast, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board continues to report the highest number of long waits in Wales.

#AE #AccidentAndEmergency #ambulance #ambulanceWaitingTime #healthEmergency #hospitalWaitingList #HywelDdaNHS #JamesEvansMS #Llantrisant #MorristonHospital #NHS #NHSWaitingList #RoyalGlamorganHospital #SwanseaBayNHS #waitingList #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust #WelshConservatives #WelshGovernment