Welsh Ambulance Service
The Welsh Ambulance Service (also called the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust or Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru) is the national ambulance service for Wales. It was established on April 1, 1998 and has 2,500 staff providing ambulance and related services to the 2.9 million residents of Wales.
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[edit] Organisation
Its headquarters is located at H.M.Stanley Hospital, St Asaph, Denbighshire and it is divided into three regions:
- Central and West Region based at Ty Maes Y Gruffudd, Cefn Coed Hospital, Cockett, Swansea
- North Region based at H.M.Stanley Hospital, St Asaph, Denbighshire
- South-East Region based at Vantage Point House, Ty Coch Ind Est, Cwmbran
The service is currently investing heavily as part of a 5 year modernization plan.
[edit] Services
The Welsh Ambulance Service provides:
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) - This service responds to emergency 999 calls and GP's urgent calls. A standard crew combination for this service would normally consist of a Paramedic and an Emergency Medical Technician. However double Paramedic / double Technician crews are not uncommon. EMS crews respond to emergency calls in Mercedes Benz 515 Sprinter ambulances, or Ford Focus Estate Rapid Response Cars
Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) - Wales is served by three helicopters operated by the Welsh Air Ambulance. These are based in North, Mid and South Wales ). Combined, the HEMS units are capable of reaching a critically ill patient anywhere in Wales within 20 minutes of receiving a call. Each helicopter crew consists of an pilot and two critical care Paramedics. The helicopter is operated by BOND Air Services but carries the Welsh ambulance service trust logo, equipment and paramedics as part of a joint operation.
Patient Care Services (PCS) - This service deals with the planned care aspect of ambulance work. PCS staff usually provide transport between home and healthcare facilities or some inter-hospital transfers.
High Dependency Service (HDS) - This new service bridges the gap between PCS and EMS, allowing for patients to be transferred between home and hospital or hospital to hospital while meeting the advanced needs that some of these patients may have ( such as oxygen administration and continuous monitoring). HDS ambulance crews may also be allocated to EMS calls at times of high demand.
Community First Responders (CFR) - CFR's are volunteers from the community trained in basic first aid, oxygen administration and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). They are used by the ambulance service mostly in rural areas to provide basic care, such as Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) before an EMS crew arrives. As CFR's are only sent to local calls in rural communities, they usually arrive before the ambulance crew, even without the use of blue lights and sirens.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Welsh Ambulance Service
- NHS Direct Wales (now merged with the Welsh Ambulance Service)
- Ambulance... Ambiwlans - Has dumbing down gone too far?
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