A new Critical Care Transfer Service, responsible for transferring the most critically ill and injured patients to specialist centres, has been launched in North Wales.

The Adult Critical Care Transfer Service Cymru (ACCTS) is a new road-based service based at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

It has been launched to ensure timely transfers of critically ill or injured patients who are already in hospitals across the region to specialist centres for treatment and specialist intensive care.

The team will also be responsible for transporting patients to hospitals closer to their home when they no longer need specialist care.

The service, funded by Welsh Government, has a consultant-led team with dedicated clinical staff with their own vehicles and equipment.

Dr Mike Slattery, consultant clinical lead for ACCTS in Wales, said: “We are very excited to be launching this service across North Wales after establishing the service in South Wales during August.

“Having this service in place will benefit both patients and also the wider health service.

“Previously if a patient required treatment at a specialist centre outside of North Wales it would require using an ambulance. Also, a doctor and nurse would need to accompany the patient which could impact services in the hospital.

“Now we have this dedicated service it means we have that specialist team on hand to transport and care for that patient to their destination. As we have our own vehicles it means we do not need to use an ambulance and do not require any staff to be taken from their intensive care unit to accompany that patient."

It is hoped this new service will also attract new doctors from across the country to work in North Wales.

Christopher Shaw, service manager for ACCTS said: “We are very excited to have the opportunity to set up this service and it wouldn’t have been possible without support from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Welsh Government.

“We have already had strong interest in ACCTS from clinicians across the UK and we hope by having this service in place in North Wales it will attract highly skilled medical, nursing and allied health professionals to come and work with us.”

Eluned Morgan, minister for health and social services said: “I’m pleased to see this new service starting in North Wales. It is an important part of our plans for improving adult critical care.

“I want to take this opportunity to recognise and acknowledge the dedication and commitment shown by everyone working in critical care in very difficult circumstances of the last 18 months. I thank you for your hard work, professionalism and compassion."