Jenny Randerson comment on ambulance shakeup

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 26th Sep 2006

Jenny Randerson AM and Jenny Willott MP are appalled at the underinvestment in Wales' Ambulance service

Following the news that the new Welsh Ambulance Chief Alan Murray has called for £140m investment over ten years, Welsh Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson said:

"The Health Minister has gone through several ambulance chiefs because he has demanded cuts to a beleaguered service. Last week in the Senedd, I questioned Brian Gibbons and he agreed that the service needs more capital investment.

"I welcome the Minister changing his position: the ambulance service is underfunded and stretched to the limit.

"However, I have learnt from conversations with ambulance personnel that spending on new equipment has not always provided value for money - for example, new ambulances that are too dangerous to use when fully loaded.

"Brian Gibbons has been late to realise that proper investment in the ambulance service would be a better way of adding value to the NHS."