Welsh Ambulance Service introduces changes to how it responds to strokes
A new "orange" category has been introduced in an attempt to improve care and response times for patients with strokes and other serious conditions.
Currently, people suffering a stroke or STEMI - a type of heart attack - are grouped with many other cases in the broad "amber" category, which represents 70% of all 999 calls to the ambulance service.
Under the new orange category, people would undergo "rapid clinical screening" by nurses and paramedics in call centres to help identify the patients requiring the most time sensitive care.
The change follows an announcement on July 1, which created new categories for cardiac and respiratory arrest and life-threatening emergencies.
Announcing the changes, Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said they would "help ensure that people experiencing a stroke receive the rapid, tailored response they need to survive, recover and thrive following a stroke."
The new categories, which replace the current amber category, are scheduled to be implemented before winter this year as part of a new emergency ambulance performance framework, according to the Welsh Government.
The changes replace the current categories with:
'Orange: time sensitive' - for conditions needing a fast response and care from ambulance clinicians before transport to hospital for specialist care, such as a stroke.
'Yellow: assess and respond' - for conditions which require further clinical assessment to determine the best pathway of care, such as a person suffering from abdominal pain who may be suitable to stay at home or may need further investigations.
'Green: planned response' - for conditions such as a blocked catheter which may require community care or planned transport to urgent care services.
As well as a change to the categorisation of 999 calls, a pre-hospital Video Triage approach is being piloted at five Welsh stroke services with support of the ambulance service.
This sees real time communication between pre-hospital clinicians, such as ambulance clinicians, and hospital stroke specialists, to improve the assessment and diagnosis of stroke.
The Welsh Government says early findings show it supports clinical decision making and improves pre-arrival information for hospital teams, speeding up access to life saving and life changing treatments.
Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said: "For people in stroke, every minute counts if lives are to be saved and disability reduced or prevented - with each minute that passes, around two million brain cells are lost.
'That's why we're introducing a new orange category into the system which will help our ambulance service identify time sensitive complaints such as stroke quickly and get patients the right specialist treatment faster.
"This will help ensure that people experiencing a stroke receive the rapid, tailored response they need to survive, recover and thrive following a stroke."
Andy Swinburn, Executive Director of Paramedicine at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said they welcome the changes.
'The nature of how patients present to 999 has changed and it's important to reflect this in the way we respond, first and foremost to increase ambulance availability for those who truly need it but also to ensure that patients who can be cared for closer to home get that opportunity.
'This latest change, which builds upon those already introduced for the most life-threatening calls, is another step towards creating the framework to do this.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Over 50 million free school meals served across Wales
The milestone comes as part of the Universal Primary Free School Meals programme, which began in 2022 and now offers every child in every Welsh primary school a free meal each day. First minister Eluned Morgan said: "Serving up school dinners to all our primary pupils for free provides vital support. "A year on from introducing the scheme to everyone, Wales is still the only UK nation to provide a free healthy meal for every primary learner. "It makes sure that no child feels hungry during the school day. "It helps their concentration and wellbeing and enabling them to achieve their full potential." The Welsh Government says the programme helps reduce health inequalities, encourages healthy eating, and supports children's learning and behaviour. The initiative also aims to source food locally where possible. Cabinet secretary for education, Lynne Neagle, said: "More than 50 million meals have been served since the introduction of Universal Primary Free School Meals, it is a remarkable milestone. "It is also a significant step in supporting Welsh families and tackling child poverty across our communities." Work is underway to review school food regulations, with a public consultation open until the end of July.
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Senedd will get final say on assisted dying law in Wales
Peter Fox, the Conservative chair of the Senedd's health committee, sought clarity on the Welsh Government's position and its powers to implement assisted dying in Wales Health secretary Jeremy Miles said the Welsh Government maintained a neutral position as he drew a distinction between enacting the UK end of life bill and its implementation. He explained enactment is reserved to Westminster but providing voluntary assisted dying services in Wales is a discretionary power in the hands of the Welsh Government. Giving evidence on July 16, Mr Miles suggested options for services outside of the NHS would be available in the private sector in Wales and England as in other parts of the world. Pressed on whether ministers could refuse to implement elements, Wales' health secretary said: 'In devolved competence, yes, and even if the [Welsh] Government wanted to and the Senedd didn't want to approve it – the Senedd would have that ability as well.' Mr Fox asked: 'On regulations – if they are not made by the Welsh Government and consequently approved by this Senedd, the NHS in Wales will not be able to provide assisted dying services – is that the case?' 'That is correct,' Mr Miles replied, later suggesting a decision on whether to provide services in the health service would be made after the next Senedd election in May 2026. The Welsh Parliament rejected the principle of assisted dying in a historic vote last year, with Senedd members voting 26-19 against with nine abstaining. The Senedd rejected a similar motion a decade earlier in December 2014. But, this side of the election, politicians will get a vote on a legislative consent motion (LCM), the means by which the Senedd signifies consent for proposed UK laws in devolved areas. While the Sewel convention states the UK Parliament would 'not normally' legislate on devolved matters without consent, it is not legally binding. But Mr Miles suggested the vote would influence Welsh ministers' decision-making.
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Senedd will get final say on assisted dying law in Wales
Peter Fox, the Conservative chair of the Senedd's health committee, sought clarity on the Welsh Government's position and its powers to implement assisted dying in Wales Health secretary Jeremy Miles said the Welsh Government maintained a neutral position as he drew a distinction between enacting the UK end of life bill and its implementation. He explained enactment is reserved to Westminster but providing voluntary assisted dying services in Wales is a discretionary power in the hands of the Welsh Government. Giving evidence on July 16, Mr Miles suggested options for services outside of the NHS would be available in the private sector in Wales and England as in other parts of the world. Pressed on whether ministers could refuse to implement elements, Wales' health secretary said: 'In devolved competence, yes, and even if the [Welsh] Government wanted to and the Senedd didn't want to approve it – the Senedd would have that ability as well.' Mr Fox asked: 'On regulations – if they are not made by the Welsh Government and consequently approved by this Senedd, the NHS in Wales will not be able to provide assisted dying services – is that the case?' 'That is correct,' Mr Miles replied, later suggesting a decision on whether to provide services in the health service would be made after the next Senedd election in May 2026. The Welsh Parliament rejected the principle of assisted dying in a historic vote last year, with Senedd members voting 26-19 against with nine abstaining. The Senedd rejected a similar motion a decade earlier in December 2014. But, this side of the election, politicians will get a vote on a legislative consent motion (LCM), the means by which the Senedd signifies consent for proposed UK laws in devolved areas. While the Sewel convention states the UK Parliament would 'not normally' legislate on devolved matters without consent, it is not legally binding. But Mr Miles suggested the vote would influence Welsh ministers' decision-making.
