Figures released this week show that ambulance response times in Pembrokeshire have deteriorated significantly in May 2014.

The figures show that 50.8% of ambulances in Pembrokeshire arrived at the scene of an immediate life-threatening Category A call within 8 minutes. The target is 65%. Neighbouring counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire achieved better figures of 53.3% and 51.9% respectively, and the average for the whole of Wales was 54.1%.

Commenting on the figures, Paul Davies AM said "It beggars belief that the Hywel Dda University Health Board and the Welsh Labour Government continue to steam roller through with their unpopular and ill- conceived changes to our hospital services. It's clear that at present the ambulance service is under great pressure, and these proposed changes to our health services will mean that patients will have to travel further for treatment, and put even more pressure on our hard working ambulance personnel."

He added "I would like to pay tribute to the dedication of our local paramedics who are being put in an impossible situation. Travelling further to get medical help will only make matters worse and once again I would urge the Hywel Dda University Health Board and Welsh Labour Government to stop their reckless assault on services at Withybush Hospital."