Concern over Air Ambulance ‘invite only' public consultation

Wales Air Ambulance has finally confirmed that public meetings will be held in the coming fortnight to push their case for closing the Welshpool base, but campaigners are incensed that it appears to be ‘invite only’ events.

Four sessions are planned for Town Hall next Tuesday at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm, but to attend, only those invited as “a key, active, supporter of the Wales Air Ambulance Charity” can register.

The charity says that: “It will be hosted by some of our Trustees, as well as our Chief Executive Sue Barnes, members of our senior management team and our Charity’s regional community representatives.”

But it appears that only those who participated in the in-depth strategic review in 2021 have been contacted. They are also told "do not forward the invitation to other groups or individuals".

We have asked the Wales Air Ambulance for clarification, but in the meantime, lead campaigner Dai Williams said this morning: “We find it highly concerning that Wales Air Ambulance have chosen to communicate with the general public in a closed forum manner, by invite only to known supporters.

“They have achieved the communicate recommendation set by the Community Health Council (CHC) in undertaking their meetings in this way, but is it fully transparent.

“Does it allow for the wider population to have open communication? no it does not.

“When the CHC did not endorse consultation, they basically did not give the wider general public the need for open meetings and the opportunity to actively challenge the WAA proposal.

“We want an opportunity to scrutinise the data and directly question those findings in the proposal and this is not giving the wider population the communication opportunity they were promised.

“A consultation period would have enabled people to challenge that the proposal did in fact not detrimentally affect the provision of air support to those in the area where the closures are planned. This is a position we feel would definitely show how flawed these proposed closures are and the selective data set used is heavily biased to the WAA proposal and due to the period being used, during lockdown, this is not a true reflection of the usage of the Air Ambulance in the most rural and vulnerable areas of Wales.”

The charity intends to close Welshpool and Caernarfon bases and opening a new base in North East Wales nearer more heavily populated areas. Campaigners say this will cost Montgomeryshire lives due to longer arrival times and the removal of the rapid response road vehicle.

A final decision is expected in the new year.

WAA schedule of ‘public meetings’

Monday 21 November – Marine Hotel, Aberystwyth (two sessions: 4pm and 6pm) 
Tuesday 22 November – Assembly Room, Welshpool Town Hall (four sessions: 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm) 
Wednesday 23 November – The Castle of Brecon Hotel, Brecon (two sessions: 4pm and 6pm) 
Wednesday 30 November – Denbigh Town Hall, Denbigh (two sessions: 4pm and 6pm) 
Monday 5 December – Trearddur Hotel, Anglesey (two sessions: 4pm and 6pm) 
Tuesday 6 December – Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon (four sessions: 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm) 

NOTE: As soon as we have clarification from Wales Air Ambulance, we will publish it.