English: The latest SSNAP data also shows that it takes on average six hours and 35 minutes between stroke onset and arrival at hospital in Wales, compared to three hours and 41 minutes in England and two hours and 41 minutes in Northern Ireland. This impacts on the time it takes for patients to receive a scan, with patients in Wales being scanned just over eight hours after their symptom onset, compared to 4.4 hours in England and 3.3 in Northern Ireland. Wales's current clinical response model classifies stroke as an amber response call, which is serious but not immediately life threatening. Since 2015, amber calls have had no target time, meaning that patients can often be waiting several hours for an ambulance to respond. Although the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust confirmed that a differing response will be made for haemorrhagic strokes, stating in 2020 that they will often tip into the red category due to their seriousness, these types of stroke are in the minority, making up, as I said, 15 per cent of stroke cases. Further, the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust stated that although there were no target times, the ideal response times for amber 1 and 2 categories were around 20 minutes and 30 to 40 minutes respectively. Given the seriousness of ischaemic strokes, which make up the majority of cases, and the deterioration of amber response times, this should, therefore, be revisited. The last review of amber response calls, conducted in 2018, found that the clinical response model is a valid and safe way of delivering ambulance services, and that the length of time waiting for an ambulance response in the amber category does not appear to correlate with worse outcomes. However, by 2020, and pre pandemic, the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust stated that amber performance remains a concern. Since COVID-19, amber response times have deteriorated significantly, with a median waiting time of one hour and 35 minutes in September - last month - 2022. Comparing Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust amber 1 and 2 category ideal times, just 12.6 per cent of overall amber times arrived within 20 minutes, and 25.2 per cent within 40 minutes. A staggering 64.3 per cent - nearly two thirds - took over an hour to respond. The English NHS recategorised ambulance emergency target calls in 2017, with stroke categorised as 'emergency', with a target time of 18 minutes and 90 per cent of calls in 40 minutes. In September 2022, the mean response time for category 2 ambulances in England was 47 minutes and 59 seconds. Given the pandemic and subsequent pressures on both ambulance and accident and emergency departments, it is, therefore, imperative that the suitability of amber calls for stroke patients in Wales is revisited. As of April to June 2022, less than half of stroke patients in Wales - 46.1 per cent - were arriving at hospital by ambulance, down from 75 per cent in January to March 2021. Although the Stroke Association does not support recategorisation of amber calls, stating, 'It is better for stroke patients to get the most appropriate response vehicle' - an ambulance that can take them to hospital, rather than simply the first one that is available, which may be unable to get them to hospital to receive the treatment they need - it supports a committee inquiry into ambulance response times for stroke in Wales, which would examine the issue in more detail. They add that the review should look into the experiences of stroke patients from call to treatment, to understand how the pathway can be improved. The Welsh Conservatives believe that the Stroke Association should not be forced to choose between a quick response by an inappropriate vehicle and a slow response by a life-saving ambulance, and that the system should be able to be adapted to ensure that an ambulance is sent for a suspected stroke, subject to the modelling necessary. It has been suggested that a few ambulances should be attached, for example, to the stroke medicine department through a direct telephone line, and emphasised that rehabilitation should start as soon as the patient arrives in hospital. The Stroke Association has also called for a renewed FAST campaign by Public Health Wales. The FAST campaign - face, arms, speech, time - was launched UK wide in 2009 to improve awareness of stroke symptoms and urge those experiencing these to call 999 as soon as possible. Acting fast gives the person having a stroke the best chance of survival and recovery. But although the FAST campaign was run in both England and Northern Ireland in 2021, it was last run in Wales in 2018. Analysis of the campaign in England found that, after being shown the materials from 2021, nearly two thirds of those at risk mentioned needing to act as a campaign message, and two thirds mentioned a need to call 999 or ask for help. Modelling found that the campaign is highly cost-effective, and since launch in 2009 it has delivered 4,000 additional thrombolysis treatments, providing 1,137 quality-adjusted life years, and a return on investment of £8.98 for every £1 spent. Throughout the pandemic, Welsh Conservatives have been constructively calling on the Welsh Government for action in numerous areas to help the Welsh NHS recover from COVID-19. As Wales and the NHS seek to come out of the pandemic, it's critical that a cross-party approach is embraced to the fullest by Welsh Government. Diolch yn fawr.
Welsh: Mae'r data SSNAP diweddaraf hefyd yn dangos ei bod yn cymryd chwe awr a 35 munud ar gyfartaledd rhwng dechrau strôc a chyrraedd yr ysbyty yng Nghymru, o'i gymharu â thair awr a 41 munud yn Lloegr a dwy awr a 41 munud yng Ngogledd Iwerddon. Mae hyn yn effeithio ar yr amser mae'n ei gymryd i gleifion gael sgan, gyda chleifion yng Nghymru'n cael eu sganio ychydig dros wyth awr ar ôl i'w symptomau ddechrau, o'i gymharu â 4.4 awr yn Lloegr a 3.3 yng Ngogledd Iwerddon. Mae model ymateb clinigol presennol Cymru yn dynodi strôc fel galwad ymateb oren, sy'n ddifrifol ond heb fod yn peryglu bywyd ar unwaith. Ers 2015, nid oes unrhyw amser targed wedi bod ar gyfer galwadau oren, sy'n golygu bod cleifion yn aml yn gallu aros sawl awr i ambiwlans ymateb. Er i Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru gadarnhau y bydd ymateb gwahanol yn cael ei wneud ar gyfer strociau gwaedlifol, gan nodi yn 2020 y byddant yn aml yn gogwyddo i'r categori coch oherwydd eu difrifoldeb, lleiafrif yw'r mathau hyn o strôc, fel y dywedais, sef 15 y cant o achosion strôc. Ymhellach, dywedodd Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru, er nad oedd unrhyw amseroedd targed, fod yr amseroedd ymateb delfrydol ar gyfer categorïau oren 1 a 2 tua 20 munud a 30 i 40 munud yn y drefn honno. O ystyried difrifoldeb strociau isgemig, sef y mwyafrif o achosion, a dirywiad amseroedd ymateb oren, dylid ailedrych ar hyn. Canfu'r adolygiad diwethaf o alwadau ymateb oren, a gynhaliwyd yn 2018, fod y model ymateb clinigol yn ffordd ddilys a diogel o ddarparu gwasanaethau ambiwlans, ac nad yw'n ymddangos bod yr amser a dreulir yn aros am ymateb ambiwlans yn y categori oren yn cyfateb i ganlyniadau gwaeth. Ond erbyn 2020, a'r cyfnod cyn y pandemig, dywedodd Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru fod perfformiad oren yn parhau i beri pryder. Ers COVID-19, mae amseroedd ymateb oren wedi dirywio'n sylweddol, gydag amser aros canolrifol o awr a 35 munud ym mis Medi - y mis diwethaf - 2022. O gymharu amseroedd delfrydol categori oren 1 a 2 Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru, dim ond 12.6 y cant o amseroedd oren cyffredinol a gyrhaeddodd o fewn 20 munud, a 25.2 y cant o fewn 40 munud. Cymerodd 64.3 y cant - bron i ddwy ran o dair - dros awr i ymateb. Fe wnaeth GIG Lloegr ail-gategoreiddio galwadau targed brys ambiwlansys yn 2017, gyda strôc yn cael ei gategoreiddio'n 'argyfwng', gydag amser targed o 18 munud a 90 y cant o alwadau mewn 40 munud. Ym mis Medi 2022, roedd yr amser ymateb cymedrig ar gyfer ambiwlansys categori 2 yn Lloegr yn 47 munud a 59 eiliad. O ystyried y pandemig a'r pwysau dilynol ar ambiwlansys ac adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys, rhaid ailedrych ar addasrwydd galwadau oren ar gyfer cleifion strôc yng Nghymru. O fis Ebrill i fis Mehefin 2022, roedd llai na hanner y cleifion strôc yng Nghymru - 46.1 y cant - yn cyrraedd yr ysbyty mewn ambiwlans, i lawr o 75 y cant ym mis Ionawr i fis Mawrth 2021. Er nad yw'r Gymdeithas Strôc o blaid ail-gategoreiddio galwadau oren, gan ddatgan, 'Mae'n well i gleifion strôc gael y cerbyd ymateb mwyaf priodol' - ambiwlans a all fynd â hwy i'r ysbyty, yn hytrach na dim ond y cerbyd cyntaf sydd ar gael, sydd efallai'n methu eu cludo i'r ysbyty i gael y driniaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt - mae'n cefnogi ymchwiliad pwyllgor i amseroedd ymateb ambiwlans ar gyfer strôc yng Nghymru, a fyddai'n archwilio'r mater yn fanylach. Maent yn ychwanegu y dylai'r adolygiad edrych ar brofiadau cleifion strôc o'r alwad ffôn i driniaeth, er mwyn deall sut y gellir gwella'r llwybr. Cred y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig na ddylai'r Gymdeithas Strôc gael ei gorfodi i ddewis rhwng ymateb cyflym gan gerbyd amhriodol ac ymateb araf gan ambiwlans achub bywyd, ac y dylid gallu addasu'r system i sicrhau bod ambiwlans yn cael ei anfon pan fo amheuaeth o strôc, yn amodol ar y modelu angenrheidiol. Awgrymwyd y dylid cysylltu ambell ambiwlans, er enghraifft, â'r adran meddygaeth strôc drwy linell ffôn uniongyrchol, a phwysleisiodd y dylai adsefydlu ddechrau cyn gynted ag y bydd claf yn cyrraedd yr ysbyty. Mae'r Gymdeithas Strôc hefyd wedi galw am adnewyddu ymgyrch y prawf wyneb, braich, lleferydd, amser gan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru. Cafodd ymgyrch FAST - face, arms, speech, time - ei lansio ledled y DU yn 2009 i wella ymwybyddiaeth o symptomau strôc ac annog y rhai sy'n profi'r rhain i ffonio 999 cyn gynted â phosibl. Mae gweithredu'n gyflym yn rhoi'r cyfle gorau i'r person sy'n cael strôc oroesi a gwella. Ond er i ymgyrch FAST gael ei chynnal yn Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon yn 2021, cafodd ei chynnal ddiwethaf yng Nghymru yn 2018. Yn ôl dadansoddiad o'r ymgyrch yn Lloegr, ar ôl cael gweld y deunyddiau o 2021, soniodd bron i ddwy ran o dair o'r rhai a oedd mewn perygl am yr angen i weithredu fel neges i'r ymgyrch, a soniodd dwy ran o dair am yr angen i ffonio 999 neu i ofyn am help. Canfu modelu fod yr ymgyrch yn gosteffeithiol iawn, ac ers ei lansio yn 2009 mae wedi darparu 4,000 o driniaethau thrombolysis ychwanegol, gan ddarparu 1,137 o flynyddoedd bywyd a addaswyd yn ôl ansawdd, ac elw ar fuddsoddiad o £8.98 ar gyfer pob £1 a wariwyd. Drwy gydol y pandemig, mae'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wedi bod yn galw'n adeiladol ar Lywodraeth Cymru i weithredu mewn sawl maes i helpu'r GIG yng Nghymru i wella ar ôl COVID-19. Wrth i Gymru a'r GIG geisio dod allan o'r pandemig, mae'n hanfodol fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn mabwysiadu ymagwedd drawsbleidiol yn llawn. Diolch yn fawr.