Concerns persist over potential cuts to ambulance services in Ceredigion despite denials that any such cuts are proposed.

Last month, the Cambrian News reported that the Welsh Ambulance Trust has said there are no proposals to cut ambulance cover in Aberystwyth and Cardigan after warnings that any cuts would “pose a danger to lives in Ceredigion”.

It followed Ceredigion MS Elin Jones raising fears after she was told there were “plans to take away an ambulance crew each from Aberystwyth and Cardigan during the day, and to no longer provide urgent care service cover outside of daytime weekday hours”.

The Welsh Ambulance Trust, however, told the Cambrian News last month “there are currently no proposals in place to reduce ambulance services in Ceredigion”.

Now, more Plaid Cymru politicians have raised “growing concern”, with Mid and West Wales MS Cefin Campbell “calling for urgent clarity from the Welsh Government”.

There are currently four 24-hour ambulance stations in Ceredigion, with Aberystwyth and Cardigan with two crews each in the day and one at night, as well as New Quay and Lampeter with one crew each in the day and one at night.

Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Campbell called on the Health Minister, Eluned Morgan, to “urgently review the situation”.

“At a time when only 48 per cent of red calls across the Hywel Dda Health Board area are responded to within eight minutes, proposals to cut the existing ambulance provision in Ceredigion are extremely concerning.

“Despite the best efforts of the NHS workforce and paramedics across the mid and west Wales region, we’re sadly getting numerous reports of individuals waiting many hours for an ambulance response.

“Further reduction in provision in the middle of a health crisis is likely to only cause further upheaval, and it’s vital any such proposals are reviewed with urgency.”

Ms Jones said that “such proposed changes to ambulance provision in Ceredigion would equate to over a 30 per cent reduction in cover in Aberystwyth and Cardigan, which is likely to have serious consequences on ambulance response times, staff workload, and inevitably will endanger lives”.

“This summer alone, I have seen first-hand a significant increase in the number of constituents contacting my office expressing concerns regarding lengthy wait for an ambulance in communities across Ceredigion, and I fear such proposals would merely exacerbate the situation further.”

Ceredigion MP Ben Lake said: “Any reduction in the ambulance cover in Ceredigion would place hardworking paramedics and ambulance service staff under even greater strain, and raises serious concerns that the ability of the service to operate effectively in the county would be undermined.”

“It is vital the Welsh Government intervenes with urgency to ensure ambulance and urgent care cover across the county is safeguarded.”