Air Ambulance campaign group vows to keep fighting

The campaign to save the Wales Air Ambulance base in Welshpool has said it will continue to hold decision makers accountable over promises of extra road ambulances in Mid and North Wales.

It comes after the group lost its High Court challenge earlier this summer against the controversial decision to close the Welshpool and Caernarfon air ambulance bases. The ruling was described as “incredibly disappointing”, but campaigners have since lodged an appeal which is now awaiting consideration by the Court of Appeal.

The group, which has been fighting to retain the Welshpool base since the plans were first announced, said from the start it questioned why it was deemed acceptable that 40 communities across Mid and North Wales would receive a slower emergency response and face an “increased unmet need” if the bases close.

Campaigners argue that the closure proposals were “based on flawed information” and that the process was “filled with bias, misinformation and misdirection”.

As part of the closure plan, health officials pledged to introduce new road-based emergency response vehicles to plug the gap. The campaign group has warned that it will monitor closely to ensure those commitments are met.

“Whilst we don’t think these measures are in any way sufficient, we will also be holding decision makers to account on their commitment that no bases would close until these additional road vehicles were in place,” the group said.

The outcome of the appeal will determine whether the case continues or finally comes to an end. In the meantime, campaigners insist they continue pursuing “all avenues open” to challenge the closure plans.