COUNCILLORS have hit out at the ambulance service after a Machynlleth footballer who broke his leg had to wait an hour before he was eventually taken to hospital in a car.

The incident occurred during Machynlleth Football Club’s 5-0 home defeat to Knighton in Division One of the Spar Mid Wales League.

After a 999 call was made at around 3.40pm, no ambulance was able to attend and the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust was only able to arrange “alternative transport” for the injured player by 4.40pm.

At a meeting of Machynlleth Town Council last week, councillors heard the player was waiting in pain for 45 minutes before callers were told by a WAST call handler that they would need to take him to hospital in a car.

Cllr Rhydian Mason said: “The person answering the call said an ambulance was sent. Then after 45 minutes of waiting, they were told to bring him to hospital in a car.

“If his leg was broken, further damage could have been caused.

“I am not criticising the ambulance crews and paramedics — I have seen what they do first-hand.”

Some councillors claimed there was a need to have an ambulance stationed in Machynlleth at all times.

Cllr Mason added: “Half the time the ambulance isn’t in Machynlleth because it is a lay-by half-way between Machynlleth and Llanidloes, or Newtown.

Rob Jeffery, WAST’s head of operations for the Powys area, said that the condition of the man was quickly established as non-life threatening.

“We appreciate that it must have been a painful wait for this man while transport was arranged,” he said.

“After the details were taken by a call handler, this call was assessed by a clinician in our Clinician Contact Centre and by 4.40pm alternative transport was arranged.

“The use of alternative transport in clinically safe and appropriate cases, such as this one, allows us to send our ambulances and crew members to calls where their skills and equipment are required, such as heart attack and stroke patients."

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