The Shadow leader of the House of Commons, Theresa May MP, has learned about the problems facing rural ambulance services during a visit to West Wales.
The senior Tory MP was visiting the area as the guest of Angela Burns, the Welsh Assembly Conservative candidate for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire.
They visited the control centre for the West Wales Ambulance Trust at Llangunnor, near Carmarthen, and were given a guided tour by staff.
"The ambulance service does a wonderful job in difficult circumstances covering such a large, rural area," said Mrs. Burns.
In Pembrokeshire, just over 60 per cent of ambulances respond to the most urgent call-outs within eight minutes. This is just within revised target levels. But not enough ambulances are getting to less urgent calls within target times. "The dispatchers were telling me that they need more satellite navigation systems linked to their software so they can find their way to places more easily," added Mrs. Burns.
"It is reassuring that target levels for urgent responses are now being met, but it is worrying that more than 30 per cent of people still have to wait more than 10 minutes for an ambulance in less urgent cases."