MONMOUTH MP David Davies has secured a meeting with the Regional Director of the Welsh Ambulances Services NHS Trust to discuss the decision to axe Abergavenny's Rapid Response Vehicle.

Mr Davies will meet with Grant Gordon to call for more investment and redeployment of the RRV. It follows news this week that emergency response times in Monmouthshire are back down among the worse in Wales.

"I am told the RRV was removed primarily due to the need to be 'financially prudent' and it is quite clear the Ambulance Service simply does not have the money to run it," said Mr Davies.

"However, I was dismayed to learn this week that emergency response times in Monmouthshire are back down among the worse in Wales. In April, almost 57 per cent of category A calls (immediately life-threatening) were reached inside eight minutes, against a target of 60 per cent. This was the best performance for a number of years and I was hopeful there would be a sustained improvement.

"Unfortunately, the situation has deteriorated and in July under 47 per cent of category A calls were reached inside eight minutes.

"One problem is that the majority of ambulances are located in the Newport area and if it is busy, people in Monmouthshire who need emergency help are waiting much longer than they should have to. This is why the Rapid Response Vehicle is so important and I find it hard to believe why something which could have improved response times has been taken away.

"The fall in performance since April is proof the Trust must redouble its efforts to improve services in rural areas."