Cefin Campbell MS Mid & West Wales

Plaid Cymru politicians have expressed grave concerns as waiting times for ambulances in west Wales continue to fall short of Welsh Government targets. 

Data released today (18 May 2023) by the Welsh Government showed that during April 2023 only 46.8% of immediately life-threatening incidents within the Hywel Dda Health Board area were attended within 8 minutes. There is currently a target for 65% of such severe ‘red’ calls to have a response within 8 minutes.  

Figures for west Wales fell below national average – with just over half (53%) of ‘red’ calls across Wales responded to within 8 minutes. In the neighbouring Powys Teaching Health Board, 42.6% of such emergency calls were attended to within the target 8 minutes. 

The latest NHS figures also showed that at the end of March 2023, 31,700 patients' pathways were waiting more than two years for treatment - falling around 5,000 from the previous month. 

The Welsh Government had previously set a target that no-one would be waiting for more than 2 years for treatment as at the end of March 2023. 

Earlier this year, Plaid Cymru published its five-point plan to help tackle the crisis in the NHS, but this was voted down by Labour. 

Responding to the figures, Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Mid & West Wales said: 

“These latest ambulance response times continue to be alarming. Now we’re into spring, it’s clear that we’re no longer talking about seasonal pressures – but rather a deep-rooted inability to get to grips with the grid-lock in our NHS. 

“The figures sadly reflect a growing trend I’m regularly seeing in my inbox and on the doorstep, with constituents across west Wales citing lengthy delays for an ambulance – often with devastating consequences. Whilst I am aware of the unprecedented pressures the pandemic has placed on our hardworking NHS staff and services, clearly urgent action needs to be undertaken to overcome these problems.”

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Plaid Cymru’s Health spokesperson added: 

“Welsh Government’s inability to improve waiting times sufficiently for patients – missing their own targets in the process, and even showing apparent denial that they weren’t on course to meet them – raises serious questions about Labour’s credibility in terms of running the health service. I don’t think it’s impossible for us to put together a vision and to deliver on that vision in a way that delivers better healthcare than we currently see being delivered here in Wales today. But when Labour can’t manage to their own targets, it’s hard to have any confidence in their ability to fix these issues.”