Campaigners in West Wales are demanding that part of a £1million windfall for the ambulance service in Wales is used to upgrade Whitland Ambulance Station to a 24-hour service.
Following an announcement that the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust will receive additional funding from the National Assembly, campaigners have written to the Trust's Chief Executive asking that part of the money is used to improve the service in West Wales.
Campaigner Llyr Hughes Griffiths said: "A recent National Assembly report concluded that Whitland should become a 24-hour station. The Ambulance Trust has always told us that they would like to upgrade Whitland but don't have the money to do so. They now have £1m in additional funding which could be used for that very purpose.
"UNISON has estimated that the cost of upgrading Whitland Ambulance Station to a 24-hour service would only be £41,000 a year. With an extra £1m in the bank the Trust should have no more excuses.
"If they are serious about tackling the deficiencies in the ambulance service in West Wales then they must use part of this money to make Whitland ambulance station a 24-hour service. If they choose not to do so then serious questions will be asked about the Trust's commitment to providing adequate services in this part of the country."
Campaigners claim that the lack of full night-time cover at Whitland currently leaves a gaping hole in the emergency ambulance cover for the whole of West Wales. Recent incidents have forced ambulances from other stations such as Tenby to respond to Whitland calls. In the meantime calls coming in to Tenby have been covered by Haverfordwest, and so on. Campaigners fear that this domino effect is undermining the service and putting lives at risk.
There are also serious concerns about the pressure being put on the ambulance workers at Whitland who sometimes have to work up to 14 hours a day. They are currently expected to work consecutive shifts on call and then on stand-by for up to seven consecutive days. Reports that this contravenes the EU Working Time Directive are now being investigated.