Soldiers to drive ambulances as part of coronavirus response

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Soldiers are being brought in to drive ambulances as part of the battle against coronavirus.

From Wednesday (December 23), more than 90 soldiers will help the Welsh Ambulance Service as it deals with the pandemic.

Among them will be soldiers from 9 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps.

Jason Killens, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “The extreme pressure on our ambulance service in the last couple of weeks has been well documented, and it’s why we’ve taken the decision to re-enlist the military, who did a superb job of assisting us earlier in the year.

“Winter is our busiest period, and with the second wave of a global pandemic also to contend with, this is about bolstering our capacity as far we can and putting us in the best possible position to provide a safe service to the people of Wales.”

Across the UK, more than 20,000 military personnel have been supporting public services throughout the pandemic.

Simon Hart MP, the Secretary of State for Wales, said: “With coronavirus case rates at high levels in many areas of Wales, it’s welcome and reassuring that our Armed Forces will help our ambulance and NHS services during what is set to be a very busy winter period.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the military has stepped up to support health services across Wales with the distribution of PPE, construction of a temporary hospital in Cardiff, assisting community testing in the South Wales Valleys and will help roll out community vaccine in the coming months.”