BURNHAM RAISES AMBULANCE FUNDING CONCERNS

9.00.00am GMT Sun 2nd Nov 2008

Eleanor during a recent visit to Ambluance HQ in St Asaph

Following the recent scrutiny of the senior management of the Welsh Ambulance Service by the Assembly's Health Committee, Welsh Lib Dem Assembly Member for North Wales Eleanor Burnham has raised concerns about funding for the service.

Ms Burnham AM said: "Alan Murray confirmed that in order to reach the new stricter targets set by Edwina Hart, they will need more money, and it's as simple as that.

"Other health bodies have been given funding to meet targets so why not the Ambulance Service which is already crippled by debt.

"It's all very well to set targets that make good headlines, but without the means to achieve them, they're not worth the paper they are written on.

"I am beginning to believe that Edwina is not serious about making the service work. She must make demands that are possible. £2m for this year and £9m for each subsequent year is a price worth paying to make this life saving service work."