HYWEL Dda’s ambulance service attended fewer of the most serious calls inside eight minutes, but still met the Welsh Government target, in June.

The target for the ambulance service is for 65 per cent of emergency calls rated as ‘red’, the most serious, to receive an emergency response within eight minutes. In Hywel Dda, 68 per cent of red calls saw an ambulance attend within eight minutes.

Across Wales, the average was 77.1 per cent, an improvement in the 75.5 per cent figure achieved in May.

The statistics released by the Welsh Government show that Cardiff and Vale Health Board had the best response, with 82.6 per cent of red calls receiving an emergency response within eight minutes.

The figures were welcomed by health secretary Vaughan Gething, who said it was clear that improvements were being made to the ambulance service.

He said: “It’s clear from these new statistics that people can be very positive about what’s happening in our ambulance service.

“The people with the greatest need, who are facing life-threatening situations, are being seen in the fastest time. All of this is being achieved against a backdrop of ever-rising demand and pressure on our ambulance service."

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online tomorrow