By liz perkins Ambulances are failing to reach 999 calls within the target time after being left waiting for hours outside hospitals. Shock figures reveal thousands of hours have been lost by crews held up outside A&E departments in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

By Madeleine Brindley Health Editor HUNDREDS of ambulances are unable to answer life-or-death emergency calls every month because they are delayed at South Wales hospitals.

By Madeleine Brindley Health Editor PARAMEDICS are refusing to drive the Welsh Ambulance Service's controversial new rapid response vehicles as concerns are raised over extended waiting times.

ALMOST half of all emergency ambulances failed to reach critically ill patients within eight minutes. Figures for December show the Welsh Ambulance Service's performance dipped below the 60% Welsh target for life-or-death 999 calls.

A fleet of high-dependency ambulances will be introduced in South- East Wales in a bid to free up emergency vehicles.