PEMBROKESHIRE and Carmarthenshire are among the counties to benefit from more than £10million in funding for new ambulances.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has announced more than £10m to replace 100 ambulances and other passenger transport vehicles with new, more efficient and greener vehicles.

The money will allow the Welsh Ambulance service to replace two emergency ambulances (EAs) and one rapid response vehicle (RRVs) covering Pembrokeshire, and three RRVs in Carmarthenshire.

“The replacement of RRVs this year will give Welsh Ambulance 100 per cent 4x4 capacity across the whole of Wales, significantly improving response capability in inclement weather conditions," said Rob Macintosh, regional fleet manager for the ambulance service.

“The £10.23m funding announced by Welsh Government will provide for the proposed replacement of a total of 100 vehicles that have reached the end of their operational viability."

The Welsh Ambulance Service currently has more 700 vehicles in its fleet, which cover an area of more than 8,000 square miles across Wales.

Carmarthen currently has a fleet of 17 EAs and 7 RRVs, while Pembrokeshire has a fleet of 14 EAs and 5 RRVs, with vehicles ranging from six months to eight years old.

While fleet sizes will remain the same, the funding will pay for more manoeuvrable ambulances which meet the latest Euro 6 emissions standards.

Mr Gething said: “I am pleased to be able to announce funding of £10.23m to replace some of our ageing ambulances and other passenger transport vehicles with more modern, fuel efficient and greener versions.

"This investment will enable the Welsh Ambulance Service to upgrade its fleet to ensure it has the most appropriate vehicles to deliver the best care for the people of Wales.”

Richard Lee, the Welsh Ambulance service’s director of operations, said: “Our ambulances and response cars in Wales are some of the most modern and well equipped in the UK and this funding will allow us to continue to replace our vehicles and crucially the clinical equipment that they carry as they reach the end of their working life.

“Modern ambulances and equipment are essential in order that we can continue to provide the best treatment and patient experience possible.

"It is also key for our staff who spend the majority of their working day out and about in the community.

“We are very grateful to the Welsh Government for their continued support.”

Since 2011, the Welsh Government has invested almost £55m in new ambulance vehicles for the Welsh Ambulance Service.