Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:33 pm on 3 July 2019.
Yes, it matters. But the challenge that we have set out for our ambulance system is to prioritise those with the greatest need, where the fastest response will make the biggest difference. That's why—before, admittedly, you came into the Chamber in this incarnation—the clinical review process was undertaken, to understand which conditions should have an eight-minute response time, and which should not, but would still have a blue light response. And the evidence does tell us that those that are in the eight-minute category—the red category—it does make a difference if there's a really fast response. Those in the amber category do have an urgent care need, and will receive a blue light response, but it is less urgent, and will make less of a difference. And, actually—and I've reiterated this many times over when we talk about ambulance response times—the approach that we have led on and taken here in Wales has been copied across the United Kingdom. The SNP Government in Scotland have taken a broadly similar approach. Even the Conservatives in England have borrowed our approach, although you won't hear a Conservative Minister stand up and say they're doing that.