Will the Minister make a statement on the fact that patients in Conwy county can be left waiting up to 72 hours for an ambulance to arrive so to be conveyed under the Mental Health Act 1983?
I expect everyone who requires an emergency ambulance to receive a response as quickly as possible, in accordance with their relative clinical need, and for all patients in Wales to receive the care they require within the timescales set out by the accepted clinical guidance for specific conditions.
The Emergency Ambulance Services Committee (EASC) continues to work with the Welsh Ambulance Service and local health boards to deliver a range of immediate and sustainable actions to support improvement. These actions are focused on better management of 999 demand in the community, increased capacity, responsiveness to people with time sensitive complaints and ambulance patient handover.
To improve conveyance of individuals under the care of mental health services, or those pre and post admission, the Welsh Government commissioned a mental health conveyance pilot in 2022. The pilot is available across Wales and the findings will inform the implementation of a new, national mental health conveyance service.