“I’ve seen firsthand, it’s beyond a crisis” – James Evans MS on Welsh Ambulance critical incident

Brecon and Radnor Senedd Member James Evans, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care questioned Labour’s Cabinet Secretary Jeremy Miles on Tuesday following a critical incident declaration by the Welsh Ambulance Service on December 30, which happened as James observed ambulance workers for a 12-hour shift.

A video was posted on social media showing the delays outside the Grange Hospital where there were 18 Ambulances stacked up. James’ ambulance was there for a few hours, but one had been there 10 hours that day.

 James said: “The people of Wales will no doubt be as shocked and saddened as I am to see so many ambulances piled outside of hospitals, a year on from the last critical incident declaration.

“Ambulance staff are under immense pressure and do a fantastic job looking after patients despite the considerable handover delays they face. The Welsh Labour Government have failed to learn lessons from last year and are, as a result, failing Welsh patients.

“I’ve seen firsthand by observing an ambulance crew for a typical shift that this situation is beyond a crisis. The Welsh NHS is broken. We need a full, thorough root and branch review to fix it.”

A link to James Evans’ Grange Hospital video can be found https://x.com/WelshConserv/status/1875511545880621545

The full Senedd exchange can be read here https://record.senedd.wales/Search/?memberid=8585&start=2025-01-07&end=2025-01-07