AMBULANCE cover in mid Wales has been branded a “disgrace” after a seriously injured rugby player was left waiting six-hours to be taken to hospital.

Eifion Pughe, 31, fractured his pelvis in two places during Machynlleth Rugby Club’s away match in Llanidloes on Saturday, 4 September.

The ambulance arrived at 9.30pm, after several 999 calls, to transfer Eifion from the pitch to Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth. Eifion reported the ambulance had to come from Aberystwyth as ambulances from Llanidloes, Newtown and Machynlleth were unavailable.

Speaking to the BBC, Eifion said: “I’ve never been in so much pain in my life and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

“When the two paramedics arrived they seemed to be embarrassed about the situation, but it’s not their fault. I felt sorry for them because it’s the system that’s not working.

“I am very grateful to the crew that came to help me and to all those in the health service that have treated me since - they all work really hard.”

In light of the incident, Councillor Elwyn Vaughan said: “This is a common and recurring theme and we simply need to get to grips with the situation.

“It’s a disgrace. And this is only one of a number of similar stories we’ve heard in recent weeks where people have had to wait exceedingly long times for ambulances - it’s just not good enough.

“I can give you another example in the past few days when somebody had a mountain biking accident and, on route, the ambulance was diverted to take a farmer with Covid-19 to Bronglais.

“There are simply not enough ambulances on the ground here in a sparse rural area. It’s not a reflection on the staff, it’s a lack of resources.

“We need this extra 30 members of staff, we need extra ambulances on the ground, as well as a commitment that stations, like Machynlleth, will be kept open 24 hours.”

In July, Councillors Bryn Davies and Elwyn Vaughan launched a campaign, calling for all ambulance stations to be 24 hours; including extending Llanidloes and Llanfyllin stations, keeping Machynlleth 24 hours and not cutting it, “as threatened”, as well as providing extra ambulances for Newtown and Welshpool.

During a Powys County Council meeting, on 15 July, an overwhelming majority of councillors backed their motion.

The Wales Ambulance Service then announced Machynlleth ambulance station was to remain open 24 hours a day and, by the end of March 2022, up to 30 new staff will be recruited in Powys.

Chief executive of WAS Jason Killens said: “We are at the start of a complex national roster review which of course must be undertaken with our staff locally as well as with trade union partners.

“With this review being a work in progress, it is still too early to comment on the precise level of emergency ambulance cover that will emerge.”

But Mr Killens did confirm Powys will see 30 new staff by March 2022.