Air ambulance row to be settled at the High Court

The fight to save Welshpool’s Air Ambulance base is set to be decided in the courts after campaigners confirmed that a costly judicial review has been issued.

Wales Air Ambulance’s wish to close Welshpool and Caernarfon bases in favour of a new base in North East Wales was backed by the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee two months ago.

But campaigners vowed they would not give up and after a lengthy process behind the scenes, the fight looks to enter one final legal stage.

In a statement issued today, the campaign team said: “As a group, we can confirm that an application for judicial review has been issued at the High Court. The application challenges the lawfulness of the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee’s (JCC) decision to adopt recommendations which would see changes to the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), including the permanent closure of Air Ambulance bases in Welshpool and Caernarfon.

“We were not prepared to accept the decision reached, and campaign teams in Mid and North Wales have been working together, along with others, and law firm Watkins and Gunn.

“The claim is being brought forward in the name of a local resident who is referred to as the Claimant. The Claimant is asking the Court to quash the JCC’s decision to adopt the recommendations, as well as to grant an injunction prohibiting the Defendant health boards from taking steps to implement the recommendations.

“As campaign groups, we know how the public, Health Boards, and clinicians in Mid and North Wales did not support the decision to close the Welshpool and Caernarfon bases. We believe that the work of the air ambulance in Mid and North Wales is vital in providing life-saving emergency treatment and ensuring rapid response times into emergency care.

“We continue to believe that swathes of Mid and North Wales will receive slower response times from the Wales Air Ambulance Service, and at times won’t receive a timely critical care response at all if the proposed changes take place.

“We also continue to call on the Welsh Government to intervene and ensure both bases remain in operation.”

The statement is signed by the following:

Cynthia & Clive Duce - Save Air Ambulance Mid Wales Base Campaign

Andy O’Regan – Save Caernarfon Air Ambulance Campaign

Russell George MS for Montgomeryshire

Cllr Elwyn Vaughan –Powys County Councillor

Cllr Joy Jones – Powys County Councillor

Cllr Graham Breeze – Powys County Councillor

Cllr Amanda Jenner - Powys County Councillor

Bob Benyon – Save Air Ambulance Mid Wales Base Campaign Team