THE shocking report by the Public Service Ombudsman on Out Of Hours Hospital Care is a devastating indictment of the NHS in Wales. The low levels of staff are having a terrible impact on the quality of patient care in Wales.

It is a damning indictment of the Labour government’s failure to plan and manage the health service properly. How much longer do we have to view the disgusting sight of ambulances queuing for hours outside hospitals because of a lack of staff to receive patients?

It’s great that at least Plaid Cymru will focus on increasing capacity in the health service. We need more staff and must drive down waiting times.

Wales suffers from having one of the lowest number of doctors per head in the whole of Europe. We must train and recruit an extra 1,000 doctors and 5,000 nurses to the Welsh NHS. The recent legislation aimed at providing safe staffing levels for the NHS is only the start. Currently, NHS staff are being put under incredible pressure because of the government’s failure to plan services properly. Plaid Cymru will give doctors and nurses the support they deserve.

For 17 years Labour Health Ministers have failed to step up to the plate and properly manage the health services in Wales. It’s time for change.

Nic Hodges

Romilly Road

Barry