A PONTYPOOL kidney dialysis patient claims late ambulances and taxis are putting patients' health at risk.

Alan Morgan, of North Road, Pontypool, has been receiving treatment at the dialysis centre in Cardiff for six months.

In that time, the 62-year-old says he has witnessed inefficiency that is causing him and his fellow patients unnecessary distress and wasting taxpayers' cash.

Last week the Argus revealed patients in Cwmbran were also experiencing problems with transport to St Woolos in Newport for treatment.

Mr Morgan told the Argus he had contacted the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust on several occasions to express his concerns about how the transport of patients to and from the dialysis centre is run.

But, he says, his concerns have "fallen on deaf ears." Mr Morgan is taken by ambulance car or private taxi to Cardiff every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for four-hour sessions of dialysis.

He said: "The ambulance car or taxi is supposed to pick me up at 6am so I can start dialysis at 7am and be off it in time for it to be cleaned and ready for the afternoon patient.

"And when they are late, which they often are, it just messes everything up."

Mr Morgan told the Argus of one occasion where he waited two hours to be picked up following his dialysis treatment.

He said: "When you haven't eaten all morning and haven't been able to take your medication the distress of having to wait so long can really get to you. I came home and was sick."

Mr Morgan says he does not blame transport or dialysis staff. "It's not their fault, they just have too much work," he said.

He is calling for an overhaul of the system for the sake of patients and taxpayers.

The South East Wales Ambulance Service said it had been experiencing "teething problems" with a new planning and control system that covers the area.

It said the problem would be resolved as soon as possible.