According to the local MS, outside the emergency room it would be necessary to install fans to disperse exhaust gases from ambulances waiting to drop off patients. There have been numerous cases where ambulances were parked for hours in front of hospitals.

Plaid Cymru South Wales East MS Delyth Jewell told the Senedd on Tuesday: “Ambulance delays are now so expected and normal that hospitals in my area have had to install fans outside the department to try and disperse exhaust emissions.” “The Health Authority has installed ventilators outside the Grange in Cwmbran to create a safer environment for staff but would like a statement on the current crisis situation which should have been planned and adopted in this way.”

This week, he said, the wait was more than 16 hours, with an average of two hours. The Welsh Government passed the Clean Air Act in the Senate last week. This includes measures that help improve air quality and reduce the impact of air pollution on human health, biodiversity, the natural environment and the economy.

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Ms Jewell added: “Earlier this year I raised concerns with the Senedd about the use of ambulances as waiting rooms and the same concerns about air pollution. The situation appears to have worsened. We’re approaching winter, when cold temperatures make it even more necessary to wait for ambulances to keep their engines running to keep patients warm, and air pollution will only get worse. We have just passed legislation to protect clean air in the Senedd. Certainly one of the places where we need clean air most is outside of hospitals, where people are very sick.”

In response, Rural Affairs Minister Leslie Griffiths said the Health Secretary had made it clear to health boards that ambulance transfers needed to be improved. She didn’t mention clean air in her answer. For the latest news on Welsh politics, sign up to our newsletter here.

Speaking afterwards, Ms Jewell said: “The most terrible thing about this is the fact that they are talking about how terrible this crisis is, but they are planning for it. It seems like a terrible indictment of the fact that they’re just waiting for this to continue, that they’ve actually put the fans in their place.” The Welsh Government has been contacted for comment.

A Welsh Government spokesman said he was not aware of ventilators being installed near hospitals. Last year it provided funding to health boards to install grounding points outside emergency departments to allow ambulances to keep batteries fully charged and keep clinical equipment running without the engine running, which it said would reduce emissions of waiting ambulances. Funding allows for at least three charging points to be installed outside each emergency room, but some have more. Prince Charles Hospital has 12, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd has ten and the University Hospital of Wales and Royal Infirmary Glamorgan have six each.