Montgomeryshire MS Russell George has urged the Welsh Government to make "full use" of military personnel to support the under-pressure Wales Ambulance Service.

Yesterday, the service confirmed it is looking to secure support from the military amid rising demand for its services, due to increased demand and amid a backdrop of rising Covid cases.

The update comes after the UK Government’s Welsh secretary, Simon Hart, wrote to Welsh health minister Eluned Morgan stating: "Ministry of Defence support is available through the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities process".

Welsh Conservative MS for Montgomeryshire, Russell George, said the service needed help in addressing the "high levels" of demand currently being experienced.

"I urge Wales’ health minister to make full use of British servicemen and women to ensure that our beleaguered ambulance staff get the assistance they need in addressing the huge levels of demand that has emerged," he said.

Speaking to The National yesterday, Jason Killens, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “Covid-19 has presented a challenge like no other, but the last couple of months in particular have meant significant and sustained pressures on our ambulance service.

“The Trust is starting to return to some of the arrangements we had in place at the height of the pandemic to better manage the increase in Covid-19 related activity that we’re feeling the impact of once again.

“As part of this, we’re looking to secure support from other agencies as we have done in the past, including the military, and work has been underway for several weeks to facilitate this, including support with logistical planning in the past week from military colleagues themselves.

“This will enable us to get a head start on what we foresee will be a tough winter, especially when you couple Covid-19 demand with seasonal flu and our usual winter pressures, which staff and volunteers across Wales are already starting to feel the pinch of in September.

“If the situation begins to improve, we can stand down some of these additional actions, but this is about putting ourselves in the best possible position for winter.”

Earlier this month, a rugby player in Llanidloes endured a six hour wait for an ambulance after sustaining a serious injury and similar reports have emerged from across the county over the summer.

Meanwhile Wales Green Party County Councillor Emily Durrant said she had witnessed 8 hour delays at accident and emergency in Merthyr Tydfil earlier this month.

"I called 999 for an ambulance 2 weeks ago and was on hold - no ambulances," she said on social media.

"Arrived at Merthry Tydfil A&E at around 11pm to find it was an 8hr wait to be seen. Terrifying.

"Staff were incredibly kind and compassionate under such enormous pressure."

A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said the ambulance service is facing "increased pressure" caused by the pandemic and said that military support options are being considered as the service enters what will be a "difficult" winter period.

“The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust is in close contact with military colleagues and is developing an option for military support alongside other options to increase capacity, such as working with the fire and rescue services and additional immediate recruitment," they said.

"We would ask people to consider carefully how to get the care they need. The NHS 111 Wales website is the quickest way to access healthcare advice if you are unwell, and it includes a symptom checker, information about local healthcare services such as pharmacies, and self-care advice."