Air ambulance funding vital - Kirsty Williams
1.35.49pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 17th Jul 2006
Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has expressed her concern at the lack of funding available for air ambulances.
A third air ambulance helicopter has been drafted in to provide emergency cover for Mid and South East Wales for the summer months, paid for largely by voluntary funding.
Ms Williams said: "The speedy response that an air ambulance can offer can make all the difference in a life or death situation, especially in an area such as ours where the regular ambulance response times are so poor. I think it is disgraceful that the Labour Assembly Government is not providing regular funding for Welsh Air Ambulances, and have written to the Health Minister to ask him to consider making a reasonable contribution to this vital service."
Notes:
The third helicopter has been provided for the months of June, July and August by the Wales Air Ambulance, which relies heavily on voluntary funding. Ms Williams has asked the Health Minister to consider supporting this service with annual funding from the Welsh Assembly.
Only 42.2 per cent of responses to immediately life-threatening emergencies in Powys arrive at the scene within eight minutes (the Government target), the worst of any unitary authority in Wales.
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Published and promoted by Kirsty Williams AM, 4 Watergate, Brecon, Powys, LD3 9AN.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.
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