At a time when many local services are being slashed, Wales Air Ambulance (WAA) has announced it is expanding its emergency service in mid Wales from five to seven days a week.
The charity, which made the announcement at the Royal Welsh Show in Powys, said seven-day cover was vital in such a remote region but would cost an extra £300,000 a year. It will trial the extra cover for six months with the aim of making it permanent.
Launched in 2006 as Wales’ third air ambulance and based at Welshpool, it follows the same route taken by the other two air ambulances, based in Caernarfon in the north and Swansea in the south. The full service is now expected to cost the charity £5m a year with each mission said to cost about £1,500.
WAA clinical and operations manager Jason Williams said: "Time makes a vital difference in an emergency, and it has always been a huge goal for the charity to get seven-day cover in such a remote region."
The Welshpool crew can reach Builth Wells within 15 minutes, and then fly to a major trauma unit in another 15 minutes.
Charity chief executive Angela Hughes said: "This is an incredible landmark for the charity but our next challenge is to keep the service at seven days and we will need your help to do that - even the smallest of donations will help to make a lifesaving difference."