We would deliver a modern Ambulance Service

3.35.54pm GMT Tue 2nd Jan 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Jenny Randerson, said:

"The poor performance of the Ambulance Service puts patients' lives at risk on a daily basis. It has had a serious knock-on effect on A&E services in particular. The Auditor General's Inquiry into the Ambulance Service was instigated with the strong support of the Welsh Liberal Democrats in the face of strong opposition from Labour.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats want to see the ambulance service working with other emergency services where that can lead to better service. In particular we are also keen to examine the potential of greater co-operation with the fire service. This could include, for example, some shared rural stations and support staff.

"We will provide the £140m investment over 10 years required to provide Wales with an Ambulance Service which is fit for purpose. We will give paramedics the power to triage patients, so that those who do not need A&E services are directed to the most appropriate source of treatment.

"Drawing on what has already been done in Scotland we aim to roll-out in-cab technology such as fully automated route navigation that also allows pre-arrival information about patients to be transmitted to hospital.

"We support the air ambulance and lifeboat services and want them to be able to access all funding possible. We will emphasise all available funding streams, including lottery funding, that should be available to them."