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Police cars used as ambulances more than 600 times Police cars used as ambulances more than 600 times
(35 minutes later)
Hundreds of patients in Wales, including a baby who later died, were taken to hospital by police because ambulances were not available. Hundreds of patients in Wales were taken to hospital by police because ambulances were not available.
Figures show more than 600 people have been taken to hospital by police cars during the last three years.Figures show more than 600 people have been taken to hospital by police cars during the last three years.
In south Wales the number increased from 83 in 2012-13 to 187 a year later.In south Wales the number increased from 83 in 2012-13 to 187 a year later.
The Welsh Ambulance Service said it was missing its eight minute target and crews were "tied up" and unable to respond to other calls.The Welsh Ambulance Service said it was missing its eight minute target and crews were "tied up" and unable to respond to other calls.
In June, Angel Smith, three, was taken to hospital by Dyfed-Powys Police after a fire tore through her family home in Carmarthen. She later died.
Among the other injuries and illnesses suffered by people, included suicide attempts, assaults, drink-related injuries, stabbings and hypothermia.Among the other injuries and illnesses suffered by people, included suicide attempts, assaults, drink-related injuries, stabbings and hypothermia.
The figures were gathered through a Freedom of Information request by Plaid Cymru asking how many times each police force was asked to take patients to hospital because of lack of availability of ambulances.The figures were gathered through a Freedom of Information request by Plaid Cymru asking how many times each police force was asked to take patients to hospital because of lack of availability of ambulances.
Statistics show 51 people in the Gwent force area were taken to hospital by police over 10 months of 2013-14 and 19 in north Wales.Statistics show 51 people in the Gwent force area were taken to hospital by police over 10 months of 2013-14 and 19 in north Wales.
'Cannot be acceptable''Cannot be acceptable'
Dyfed-Powys Police did not provide figures.Dyfed-Powys Police did not provide figures.
Plaid Cymru's health spokesperson Elin Jones said the ambulance service is currently facing "real challenges" to turn itself around.Plaid Cymru's health spokesperson Elin Jones said the ambulance service is currently facing "real challenges" to turn itself around.
"It cannot be acceptable that, for instance, three people on average a week in south Wales are being taken to hospital by police car," she said."It cannot be acceptable that, for instance, three people on average a week in south Wales are being taken to hospital by police car," she said.
"My fear is that one day someone may die in a police car while on the way to hospital because an ambulance is not available. There clearly needs to be better management within the NHS so that vehicles aren't tied up waiting at hospitals.""My fear is that one day someone may die in a police car while on the way to hospital because an ambulance is not available. There clearly needs to be better management within the NHS so that vehicles aren't tied up waiting at hospitals."
Number of times forces were asked to take patients to hospitalNumber of times forces were asked to take patients to hospital
Source: Freedom of Information Request from April 2011 - April 2014Source: Freedom of Information Request from April 2011 - April 2014
Director of service delivery at the ambulance service Mike Collins said the organisation was working as hard as it could take patients to hospital as quickly as possible.Director of service delivery at the ambulance service Mike Collins said the organisation was working as hard as it could take patients to hospital as quickly as possible.
"The trust is working in partnership with police forces across Wales to reduce instances where our emergency colleagues are awaiting an ambulance response," he added. "Both the trust and all four police forces maintain frequent contact and are building on the close relationship in support of each other and their staff."The trust is working in partnership with police forces across Wales to reduce instances where our emergency colleagues are awaiting an ambulance response," he added. "Both the trust and all four police forces maintain frequent contact and are building on the close relationship in support of each other and their staff.
"Despite the increase in calls that we experience year on year we are actually reaching more and more people across Wales than ever before.""Despite the increase in calls that we experience year on year we are actually reaching more and more people across Wales than ever before."
The Welsh government has declined to comment. The Welsh government said the figures represented about 0.05% of calls to the ambulance service over the period.