SIR,

Last week Chepstow town council voted in support of a scrutiny inquiry into the Welsh Ambulance NHS Trust.

They are the second town council to support an inquiry which should be conducted by the Health and Social Committee at the National Assembly of Wales.

The first town council to support the proposal was Monmouth following a petition which was delivered to the Sennedd in February 2012.

It was signed by 450 people following a public meeting. That meeting exposed a significant number of challenges the area faced.

Since then, Monmouth Health Group, and my academic research has shown that last year 30 per cent of shifts were not covered in the Monmouth area, and the service was facing a three per cent cut while demand was increasing by three per cent.

Moreover, performance targets were missed and budgetary mishaps were reported nationally.

The Minister of Health has launched a 10-week review which will look at alternative structural models for the Ambulance Service, consider previous external and internal reviews, speak to staff, health boards and relevant stakeholders and take account of good practice in other health systems.

Results should be available by March.

The Welsh Audit Office is also looking into the trust after several concerns which arose regarding its budget.

There were several reviews in the past, and there is a continuing shortfall regarding service accountability. Part of this is due to fragmentation, fudging statistics and staffing difficulties.

A scrutiny inquiry must take place and must balance the issues commonly reported such as performance targets and inadequate financial resources.

Nevertheless, that is the tip of the iceberg; it must also address the structural and cultural issues which are clearly underlying failures.

We have observed significant failures in the ambulance service, now it is time for significant improvements. I will continue to fight for a service which is vital to us all, with the greatest respect for its hard working and skilled staff, and the people who have helped support the campaign.

Mat Davies

(Monmouth)