HYWEL Dda’s ambulance service had the worst response time in Wales in October, failing to meet a new target aimed at ensuring the most serious cases receive a response inside eight minutes.

The national average surpassed the Welsh Government target that 65 per cent of red calls, the most immediate life threatening calls, should receive a response within eight minutes.

However, Hywel Dda missed the target, with the lowest percentage across Wales.

A total of 57.6 per cent of red calls in Hywel Dda received a response inside eight minutes.

Other health board areas that failed to reach the 65 per cent target were Cwm Taf with 63.7 per cent and Powys with 63.8 per cent.

Betsi Cadwaladr had the highest percentage of red calls that received a response inside eight minutes at 73.4 per cent.

Cllr Elizabeth Evans, the Lib Dem Assembly Candidate for Ceredigion, expressed her concerns.

She said:“This new targeting regime may make life easier for ministers, giving them one less negative headline every month, but in reality people are being left in the dark as to how well their ambulance service is actually performing."

See next week’s south editions for the full story