The new �9m unit for the elderly was opened at Prince Philip Hospital

Plaid Cymru AM Helen Mary Jones said she was approached by one of the drivers while attending the ceremony at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli.

The �9m unit for the elderly was unveiled on Thursday by minister Jane Hutt.

Carmarthenshire NHS Trust said it had been a particularly busy day.

Helen Mary Jones was only at Llanelli because the Health Minister was opening a new health unit for the elderly with an investment of �9m Spokesperson for Jane Hutt

A spokesperson for Ms Hutt accused Ms Jones of making 'opportunistic' statements to the press when she should be supporting the health services in Llanelli.

Ms Jones said minutes before leaving the hospital she had listened to Ms Hutt saying the Welsh Assembly Government would accept only the best for the people of Llanelli.

"I was furious to be stopped as I was leaving the hospital by an ambulance driver who was waiting outside the accident and emergency department with a sick patient", said the Plaid AM for Mid and West Wales.

"The patient had to stay in the ambulance because there were no beds available.

"Two other ambulances were also outside with waiting patients, one an elderly lady with a serious heart condition."

'Opportunistic'

She said she was assured by trust managers that places would be found for them although she claimed there were no beds available in neighbouring hospitals in Swansea or Carmarthen either.

Ms Jones added: "This morning the staff involved in this incident were at their wits end.

"The minister's refusal to acknowledge that there are still grave problems in the health service despite all the money being thrown at it is shocking."

A spokesperson for Carmarthenshire NHS Trust said: "Prince Philip Hospital, along with neighbouring hospitals along the M4 corridor, have been affected by considerable pressures today.

"We are responding as quickly as we can to ensure that patients requiring admission to our A&E departments and/or requiring an in-patient bed are accommodated as quickly as possible."

A spokesperson for Ms Hutt said: "Helen Mary Jones was only at Llanelli because the Health Minister was opening a new health unit for the elderly with an investment of �9m in new services at Prince Philip.

"Opportunistic press releases - which show that the hospital was, in any case, able to resolve any difficulties - are hardly the best way to support health facilities in the Llanelli area."