IT IS deeply troubling to hear that on two occasions it took more than one hour for an ambulance to attend patients who were in serious need but reassuring that response times are being looked in to.

In 21st century Britain, it is alarming to know of someone who has had a seizure and lost consciousness was not treated as a category one incident, the most serious kind.

To know also that the ambulance’s response to that incident took more than one hour is even more frightening.

However, South West Ambulance Service have defended their overall response times, saying their eight minute target is being met in 90 per cent of most recent category one cases.

Their director of operations has also promised to answer the concerns of Malmesbury’s Wiltshire councillor after being questioned at a Health Select Committee meeting.

Hopefully this means that the recent incidents are anomalies rather than regular occurrences in Malmesbury.