Air Ambulance won’t be providing land vehicles after Welshpool base closes
Campaigners were gutted to learn that their long fight to stop the base’s closure was unsuccessful this month, and have turned their focus to ensuring any mitigating measures are delivered.
And in his exclusive MyWelshpool column yesterday, Montgomeryshire Senedd Member Russell George said: “As part of the proposed changes, a range of so-called ‘mitigation’ measures were announced, including the deployment of additional road vehicles for areas of mid and north Wales.
“However, we firmly believe these steps fall far short of what is truly needed to safeguard vital services. We will continue to scrutinise and hold decision makers to account regarding their promise that no bases will close until these further resources are fully operational and in place.”
But we put the issue to Wales Air Ambulance, who are in the midst of a paid social media charm offensive, and they told us that it’s not for them to pick up the shortfall when 40 local communities suffer from slower response times once the helicopters move to a new base in North East Wales.
They have also commented on their socail media campaign that Welshpool isn’t suited for a rapid response land vehicle anyway.
A spokesperson explained: “There seems to be some confusion about the new rapid response vehicle service proposed and its connection to the air ambulance service. It’s sometimes mistakenly referred to as mitigation for moving bases. To clarify, this is a proposal based on concerns raised about the wider ambulance service. It’s not a replacement for the air ambulance and would be run solely by NHS Wales.
“That was something recognised by the Judge in the Judicial Review. In his written outcome, Justice Turner said: “I accept the defendants’ submission that Recommendation 4 (proposed new RRV service) was sufficiently distinct in its purpose not only from Recommendations 1-3 (air ambulance service improvement) but also from all six of the shortlisted options.”
“As we’re not involved in the proposed service, we don’t have any information about it. That would be a question for NHS Wales.”
No date has been given yet for the base’s closure, but the spokesperson added: “With regards to the service improvement transition, we’re currently undertaking preparatory work which involves the identification of potential sites within the geographical area identified by the Service Review as allowing us to deliver the most effective service.
“We expect the transition itself to be within 12 to 24 months, depending on detailed timeline planning yet to be finalised.”
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