Revival plan for ambulance trust

Mr Murray admits: "There's a lot to be fixed"

The new head of the embattled Welsh ambulance service has vowed to turn things around and said improvements will be made by Christmas.

Alan Murray - the third chief executive in as many months - gave a report to the trust's board in St Asaph.

He described his new role as the "best job in the UK ambulance service" adding the trust's problems were "fixable".

A Welsh assembly public inquiry is being held into the state of the service described as being "in crisis".

Wednesday's meeting of the Welsh Ambulance Trust's board at its headquarters in St Asaph, Denbighshire, discussed how the trust will make improvements.

When it's fixed, it will make a huge difference for the people of Wales and for the staff as well Alan Murray

New head Mr Murray, 54, said he was confident some improvements will be made before Christmas such as speeding up the calls process.

He said that other "serious, systematic" issues would be dealt with in the longer term.

The Welsh ambulance service has had three different chief executives in as many months.

Former chief executive Roger Thayne, who left in May, claimed the service was in "crisis" and had called for millions of pounds of investment. He resigned after being asked to make savings.

Mr Thayne's successor, Dr Anton van Dellen, also resigned as interim chief executive in July, saying he was unable to commit long-term to the role.

A Welsh assembly inquiry will look into the state of the service.

A public inquiry is due to be held into the ambulance service

New chief executive Mr Murray has advised more than half the ambulance trusts in England and helped to steer Merseyside Ambulance Service to improved statistics.

Following the board meeting in St Asaph, in which Mr Murray presented his plan - entitled Time to Make A Difference - he said: "I was confident before the meeting that the board would back the way forward and give their support and that's what they've done.

"[It's] the best job in the UK ambulance service because there's a lot to be fixed.

"We acknowledge that. It's fixable.

"When it's fixed, it will make a huge difference for the people of Wales and for the staff as well."

'Major challenges'

Earlier, Mr Murray told BBC Radio Wales, that his plan fell into three main categories: to provide clinically effective responses to people in life-threatening situations; offer new, more appropriate care options for people who may not need to go to hospital and the provision of a reliable and punctual non-emergency transport service.

He said: "There are major challenges in Wales that are not entirely unique but they are not everyday issues in the rest of the UK.

"One is providing clinically effective services to sparsely populated areas."

He added: "I did my homework before I came into this job. I've looked at some of the figures and I was convinced the job could be done."

He said working for change while the assembly inquiry was ongoing would not pose a problem.

"The evidence we have so far is that it's going to be helpful," he said.