The military has been deployed to the roads of mid and north Wales today to support the “extreme pressure” on the Welsh Ambulance Service.

50 military personnel have this morning (Tuesday) been deployed to Powys, Ceredigion, Gwynedd, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire.

This follows the first cohort of 50 troops from the 4 Regiment Royal Logistic Corp that were deployed, in south and north Wales, on 19 October, driving ambulances across Wales after undergoing training at Newport’s Ragian Barracks.

A 29-strong team of supporting personnel will make a total of 129 soldiers, sailors and airmen supporting the Trust until the end of November.

Lee Brooks, the Trust’s Director of Operations, said: “We’re proud and grateful to have the military working alongside us once again, who did a superb job of assisting us on two occasions previously last year.

“Having our Armed Forces colleagues back on board will help us put more ambulances on duty so we can get to more patients, more quickly, while the extreme pressure continues.

“Essentially, they’ll work with one of our clinicians on an emergency ambulance responding to the full range of emergency calls.

“The winter period is our busiest time, and having military support will bolster our capacity and put us in the best possible position to provide a safe service.”

Major Alex Wilson, Officer Commanding 60 Close Support Squadron, Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, 4 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, said: “Over the weekend we spent time training with the paramedics and emergency medical technicians to familiarise ourselves with the ambulances, equipment and processes to make sure we can assist in the best way we can.

“The soldiers are ready to begin the task we have been deployed to do in Wales.

“It’s a privilege to be working with our Welsh Ambulance Service colleagues in supporting the NHS in Wales to ease the pressures that currently exist.”

This comes after numerous reports of an inadequate ambulance coverage across north Powys.

In July, Powys County Council supported a motion by Councillors Bryn Davies and Elwyn Vaughan, calling for 24 hour stations in north Powys.

In September, Eifion Pughe was left waiting six-hours for an ambulance after he fractured his pelvis in two places during Machynlleth Rugby Club’s away match in Llanidloes.

The Welsh Ambulance Service announced Machynlleth station was to remain open 24 hours and, by the end of March 2022, up to 30 new staff will join Powys teams.

Fears have also been raised over the future of ambulance cover in Ceredigion despite the Welsh Ambulance Trust saying there are ‘currently no plans’ to reduce service in Aberystwyth and Cardigan.

There are currently four ambulance stations which are staffed 24/7 in Ceredigion: Ab-erystwyth 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.