SIR,
Below, as promised, is a letter from Edwina Hart AM, our Welsh Health Minister, to myself with respect to a delay in ambulance response which was the subject of my letter in the Beacon on 2nd March.
Readers should note the great credence she attaches to 'serious incidents'. I feel the one in my letter was such an event.
The public of Monmouth should also note that our Welsh Health Minister indicates that when serious incidents are brought to her attention she will respond to them, after having made appropriate investigations of the complaint.
Our Health Minister goes on to assure us there are "robust processes in place to ensure that all NHS organisations learn from such incidents and subsequently improve services".
Therefore it is our salutary duty to make sure any serious deficiencies in the provision of vital and life saving health services are brought to her notice immediately in order to facilitate her task.
Dr MS Matharu OBE
(St Maughans)
Dear Dr Matharu,
Thank you for sending me a copy of your letter in which you express concern about an incident involving an elderly lady in the Monmouthshire area.
I was sorry to read about the situation you describe and can appreciate it must have been an anxious and frustrating wait for the patient involved.
However, I hope you will understand that I am unable to comment on individual cases and it would be wholly inappropriate for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust to respond publically without the express permission of the patient involved.
It should be acknowledged that the trust – like the rest of the NHS – has been under significantly more pressure than usual during the winter period due to a considerable increase in the number of calls from patients with serious illnesses such as heart attacks, stroke and respiratory ailments made worse by the severe weather.
Unfortunately therefore, there were occasions when delays were unavoidable.
Finally, I can assure you that any serious incidents to occur are brought to my attention.
There are robust processes in place to ensure that all NHS organisations learn from such incidents and subsequently improve services.
Edwina Hart MBE OStJ AM
(Minister for Health and Social Services)