The Welsh Ambulance Service has said fears that Machynlleth was left with no ambulance cover during the visit of Prince Charles earlier this month are “inaccurate”.

Last week, the Cambrian News reported that Machynlleth mayor Monica Atkins said she had been informed that there was no ambulance cover in Machynlleth on the day, as crews were instead covering in other areas – with a Machynlleth resident having been left to wait two hours before receiving an ambulance response.

Cllr Atkins also claimed she had been told there was no ambulance cover in Machynlleth over the weekend of 12 July and that crews based at Machynlleth were actually being used to cover other areas in Powys.

The Welsh Ambulance Service told the Cambrian News this week that it is “committed to serve the people of Wales” and that suggestions they don’t cover an area of Wales are “inaccurate”.

David Watkins, locality manager for North Powys with the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, told the Cambrian News that the Welsh Ambulance Service “is committed to cover all shifts”.

“Should we be unable to cover shifts locally, such as in Machynlleth, we will endeavour to provide mitigating cover from other locations, as we did on this occasion,” he said.

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