PARAMEDIC recruitment in Wales was hit by the revelation today that only 20 of 67 graduates will be offered jobs by the Welsh Ambulance Service this year.

This is despite the critical state of services and response times in Wales, and the ambulance service requesting 86 paramedics to be trained and paid for through Welsh government funding.

According to data released to the Welsh Liberal Democrats, out of the 67 paramedic graduates in Wales this year, only 20 will be hired. 

The figures were confirmed by Health Minister Jeremy Miles to Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds.

The party is calling on the Welsh Labour government to intervene and create more posts to prevent the time and money spent training the paramedics from being wasted. 

Ms Dodds said: “It is vital that the Welsh government act with urgency before these paramedics are lost to NHS Wales.”

A Welsh government spokesman said: “We are working closely with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust to address these challenges and support graduates.”