Outrageous scandal of 1806 ‘lost ambulance hours’ at Withybush Hospital.

Over the last past 22 months, an outrageous 1,806 hours have been wasted at Withybush while ambulances wait to discharge their patients.   This has cost of over £137,000.  The sum wasted across the Hywel Dda Health Board amounts to nearly £500,000.

 Apart from causing distress to the patient waiting to be transferred to the A&E department, pressure is put on ambulance crews responding to other emergency calls in the area. 

 Bob Kilmister, Preseli Liberal Democrat Assembly Candidate, said:

“This information, brought to light by a Welsh Liberal Democrat enquiry under the Freedom of Information Act, clearly shows that despite the magnificent efforts of all the staff involved, patients are being let down by the mismanagement of the Labour-Plaid run NHS.  Discharge rates in England are 72% better.  Pembrokeshire residents are receiving a second class service because of this.”

 Veronica German, Welsh Liberal Democrats Shadow Health Minister , adds:

 “These figures are absolutely shocking. Month after month, we see that Welsh patients have to wait an unacceptable amount of time for ambulances to respond to emergency call-outs and now we see that ambulances have to wait an unacceptable amount of time to transfer patients and get back on the road to respond to emergency calls.

 “On top of the staggering wasted ambulances hours across Wales, it is estimated that over £6 million was lost to the Welsh NHS over the last two years because of queuing ambulances.  We should be looking for savings in the NHS not wasting money.”