THE Welsh Ambulance Service is calling on its staff and volunteers who are suitably insured and with a 4x4 vehicle, to help ferry staff to and from work across South Wales specifically in Cardiff and Vale, Aneurin Bevan and Cwm Taf Health Board areas as it prepares for more wintry weather.

While it appears that the worst of the snow is over, there is still a yellow weather warning in place for parts of Wales, so the Trust is working hard to ensure it’s equipped to respond.

Staff and volunteers with a 4x4 vehicle that is covered by business mileage on their insurance and who are able to help the Welsh Ambulance Service are being asked to call 01633 417131.

Louise Platt, Assistant Director of Operations, said: “We would really appreciate any help that our staff and volunteers are able to provide, providing they are suitably covered by insurance and have a 4x4 vehicle at their disposal.

 “We’ve had an amazingly supportive response so far. I’d also like to say a big thank you to all of our staff and volunteers for going above and beyond the call of duty to serve our patients in these severe wintry conditions.

“We have also received offers of help from the public to help ferry our staff into and from work - which we are so grateful for - but unfortunately we’re unable to accept these because of insurance purposes.”

The Trust continues to closely monitor the weather forecast for Wales and has contingency plans underway to deal with the adverse weather conditions being experienced, which include working with other emergency services and organisations to make sure they can get medical help to patients in the safest manner in wintry conditions.

Special arrangements to keep colleagues fed and watered have been extended to keep the hard-working staff and volunteers nourished and hydrated as the cold snap continues.

The Trust asks that the public remembers that ambulances are for serious and life-threatening emergencies only and there are a host of alternatives to 999 and the Emergency Department.

If you’re ill and unsure what to do, you can take one of the many NHS Direct Wales online symptom checkers for tailored advice. Check them out at www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk ??You can also call the service on 0845 46 47 for 24/7 health advice and information (or 111 if you live in Swansea, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot or Carmarthenshire).

You can follow the Welsh Ambulance Service on Twitter @WelshAmbulance and on Facebook (Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust) for the latest news and updates, or visit your respective Local Health Board’s website for more information about services in your area.

For useful health information and advice, you can also visit the Public Health Wales website at www.publichealthwales.wales.nhs.uk .