My meeting with Welsh Ambulance Chief executive Alan Murray

Yesterday I held a meeting with Welsh Ambulance Chief executive Alan Murray to discuss cuts to ambulance cover in the Rhondda. Mr Murray requested the meeting following concerns I expressed after approaches from a number of constituents. The meeting at the trust’s St Asaph headquarters was also attended by Leanne Wood, AM for South Wales Central.

I was very pleased that we were able to arrange the meeting at short notice and to have detailed discussions about future plans for the ambulance service.

Naturally, Alan Murray is delighted that many targets set by the government were being met, but it is clear that public perception is very different. When members of the public hear that target times are being met, they think in terms of a fully equipped ambulance and crew arriving, but the performance targets refer to the arrival of a resuscitation unit, which could mean trained volunteers rather than fully qualified ambulance staff.

Mr Murray highlighted many long term aims, but, in the meantime, areas such as the Rhondda are facing cuts, whether the trust likes the word or not. Unfortunately there are times when ambulances are being called to non urgent cases because people are having wait for weeks sometimes to see a GP and see this as the only alternative. Certainly there is a need for changes, but there must be more notice taken of circumstances in different localities.

Alan Murray has agreed to provide detailed information about the Rhondda in comparison to neighbouring valleys and this will be very helpful. However, I am disappointed that he will not hold in abeyance the Rhondda ambulance service cuts in the meantime, despite the problems with emergency cover seen in the last few days.

Once the detailed comparative figures have been provided, I will meet Mr Murray again, and hope that people’s concerns in the Rhondda will be properly addressed.

Ambulance cuts in Rhondda!

I’ve asked asked for an urgent meeting with the head of the ambulance services because of the cuts to ambulance cover in the Rhondda.

Ambulances are being cut in areas like the Rhondda to improve response rates in city areas. The Welsh Ambulance Service is more concerned with statistics and meeting targets than improving the level of service in the valleys.

For example, when Treherbert ambulance station closed in 1998 the community were promised that the service wouldn’t be reduced. If these cuts go ahead in Gelli that ambulance will be lost.

Here’s a copy of my letter to Mike Cassidy, Director of Ambulance Services :

Dear Mr. Cassidy

Rhondda ambulance service downgrading

I have been approached by several constituents expressing concerns about the loss of ambulance services in Rhondda.

I understand that the Rhondda will lose one ambulance completely and other services will be downgraded at the end of this month (August 2007). In addition, I also understand this will mean further cuts in the opening and staffing hours of the ambulance stations in Ferndale and Gelli.

This proposal is totally unacceptable and will put Rhondda lives at risk, and I would like an urgent meeting with you to clarify the position.

Jill Evans MEP