'Faster 999 response' from ambulances for serious cases

Targets for ambulance response times in Wales are to be dropped for all but the most life-threatening calls.

In a one-year trial from October, performance for less urgent incidents will be assessed by clinical outcomes - the results of the treatment delivered.

The target of responding to 65% of very urgent calls within eight minutes will remain in place but will apply to fewer calls, down from 40 percent to 10 percent of all 999 calls.

Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething says time targets are not always the best guide to the success of ambulance services.