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.

[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

[edit] Services

The Welsh Ambulance Service provides:

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) - This service responds to emergency 999 calls and GP's urgent calls. Usually staff are either Paramedics or Ambulance Technicians. Staff may respond in Ambulances, Rapid Response Vehicles or using push bikes in city and town centres.

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. They may provide basic healthcare needs during transit, such as administering Oxygen.

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) whilst an ambulance is on the way. As the live locally in the rural communities, they often arrive within minutes.

[edit] See also

• National Health Service
• NHS Direct Wales

[edit] External links

• Welsh Ambulance Service
• NHS Direct Wales (now merged with the Welsh Ambulance Service)

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