In a letter to the minister, dated September 15, 2009, Buchanan said the ambulances were donated by private entities and were assigned to health centres in Darliston, Whitehouse and Lambs River.

Buchanan said the ambulances were loaned to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital and have all fallen into disrepair.

Very concerned

"Minister, as I write, the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital is without an ambulance and the constituency of Eastern Westmoreland is very concerned about this fact. We are further concerned that of the three ambulances we got as gifts to assist us in emergency situations, none is available to us," Buchanan's letter said.

The member of parliament asked that Spencer treat with the situation as a matter of urgency. He has also requested that the constituency of Eastern Westmoreland be given "at least one new ambulance as compensation for the three we lost in service to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital".

Eastern Westmoreland was represented by former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.