Labour Mislead over Ambulance Service

11.39.43am GMT Thu 1st Feb 2007

The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust is set to receive £55million from the Welsh Assembly Government to buy state-of-the-art digital communication systems.

Ahead of Brian Gibbons' announcement Welsh Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Jenny Randerson said "This announcement is not all that it appears. It seems that it is being heralded as a Welsh Assembly Government decision when it was inevitable. King Canute could not have held back this investment.

"The current frequency is being discontinued, England's Ambulances are adopting the same system and the Police already have it. It is a welcome development but not one that the Health Minister could have done anything about.

"To say that this funding is on top of £16million that the Assembly Government gave to the Ambulance Trust in October is misleading and suggests that this money could have gone somewhere else or has appeared from nowhere.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats have pledged £140 million to bring the Ambulance service up to the highest possible standards. Labour are not as committed."

Ends/diwedd

Contact/cyswllt: Andrew Sherwood - 029 2089 8324