Ambulance Service confirms money needed to reach targets - Randerson

1.25.51pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Oct 2008

The Ambulance service is at risk of missing key targets without the extra funding

Following this morning's scrutiny of the senior management of the Welsh Ambulance Service by the Assembly's Health Committee, Welsh Lib Dem Spokesperson for Health Jenny Randerson AM said:

"Alan Murray confirmed that in order to reach the new stricter targets set by Edwina Hart, they will need more money, and it's as simple as that.

"Other health bodies have been given funding to meet targets so why not the Ambulance Service which is already crippled by debt.

"It's all very well to set targets that make good headlines, but without the means to achieve them, they're not worth the paper they are written on.

"I am beginning to believe that Edwina is not serious about making the service work. She must make demands that are possible. £2m for this year and £9m for each subsequent year is a price worth paying to make this life saving service work."

Notes:

1. In this morning's Health Committee, WAS Chief Executive Alan Murray warned the committee that without £2m for the remainder of this year and £9m per year for subsequent years, key targets for the service be all but impossible to achieve.

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