Air Ambulance to remain in Welshpool for another year

There is some good news regarding the ongoing saga surrounding the closure of Welshpool’s Air Ambulance base, with campaigners being told that a new lease has been signed with Welshpool Airport through to April 2027, but we still await progress on rapid response vehicles (RRV) being provided as a replacement.

It was thought that the base would close this year after a campaign to stop it finally ended with a judicial review last year.

Campaigners have since taken up the fight to ensure the charity delivers on a commitment made by the review’s recommendations that the base shouldn’t close until RRV’s were in place.

That has since become another sticking point, but the campaign continues, with its lead, Cynthia Duce, updating last night following a meeting with the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC), who are responsible for the transition.

“During the meeting we asked about the promise that was made during consultation that no base would close before Recommendation 4 (RRVs) was in place and up and running,” said Cynthia. “Unfortunately, we struggled to get a direct answer from them as Stephen Harrhy (who led the review) had made the commitment that no base would close until RRV’s were in place and he has now left the health board.

“They said that unmet need had been identified through the consultation which they are now working on with Welsh Ambulance Service. They also said they are committed to work with LLAIS (an independent statutory body representing the people’s voice in Welsh health and social care) and will continue to meet with the campaign team, and we will be meeting with them again towards the end of January 2026.”

However, she was able to share some good news for the short term.

“What we have found out since the meeting, in fact a few days ago, is that Wales Air Ambulance have signed an extension on their lease with Welshpool Airport that our fantastic red helicopter will be at Welshpool until at least April 2027.”

Wales Air Ambulance are closing bases in Welshpool and Caernarfon in favour of one central base in north east Wales, claiming it will see more lives saved. But local campaigners claim that will come at the expense of lives in rural Montgomerywshire.