Wales Air Ambulance has announced plans to leave its base in Welshpool, and establish a new base further north, which it says will allow it to attend more than 500 extra emergencies a year. The charity has bases in Cardiff, Caernarfon and Llanelli but has not yet announced where the potential new north Wales base would be.
The plans would see the Welshpool crews, including aircraft and vehicles, to north Wales. It would also see the hours of operation for the base extended, meaning the Cardiff-based overnight crew would not need to be called out to emergencies in north Wales, Powys and Ceredigion.
Wales Air Ambulance's chief executive Dr Sue Barnes said: "It’s important to remember that we go to the patient, the patient doesn’t come to us. There is strong evidence that says every part of Wales will benefit from the proposed changes. Our aim is always to make the best use of our donations by attending even more people in need. People have trusted us in the past and we’ve delivered. Whatever we decide to do moving forward, we really hope that people trust us once more.
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However, the plans have been questioned across the political spectrum including Craig Williams, the Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, who said he was "very concerned" at the impact. Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds and Powys County Council Plaid members were among others who expressed worries.
The Leaders of Powys County Council, a Labour and Lib Dem administration also noted concern. In a statement, they said: "The Wales Air Ambulance Service is a vital service, especially for a rural county such as Powys. It also receives a huge amount of public support from our residents.
"It is therefore disappointing and extremely concerning that their proposal could see their Welshpool base close. We will be seeking assurances from senior representatives at Wales Air Ambulance that changes won’t impact on our residents. We will also be asking for an explanation for the justification for this proposal, in particular how moving their base from Welshpool to north Wales will enhance the service for our residents."
Joy Jones, an independent county councillor in Powys, has also started a change.org petition to try and stop the closure of the Welshpool base. The petition, " HANDS OFF Our Air Ambulance base in Welshpool," has already gathered over 4,000 signatures.
Comments on the petition referred to the service as "lifesaving," "essential," and "crucial." On the change.org page, a statement says: "This service is extremely important to Powys due to the rural areas we live in and the huge distances we have to travel for emergency care.
"With the lack of road ambulances in our area, it is important that we keep the air ambulance in Powys where it can be scrambled quickly to reach patients. As an independent county councillor and someone who fights for health services, I feel this is important and this proposal needs to be stopped."
However, Wales Air Ambulance published findings showing that the proposed move could mean the charity could attend 583 additional missions each year, with every county of Wales seeing an increase in service - including Powys, with a projected 11% increase. Dr Barnes said: "The air ambulance in Wales is 21 years old and has evolved significantly. Our focus has moved from getting patients to the nearest hospital to getting our advanced medics to the patient.
"We now operate via road as well as air. This is vital when aircraft are grounded for technical reasons or when flying conditions are poor.
"Current locations mean that patients in north and mid Wales suffer from a lack of this alternative provision as a result of poor road access – unlike their counterparts in south Wales.
"Also, our current aviation contract is up for renewal, presenting us with a once-in-a-decade opportunity to look at our current service provision. Any service enhancements identified would need to be included as a part of the contract with the successful bidder."
Professor David Lockey, EMRTS National Director and international authority on air ambulance operations, added: "From an NHS perspective we are delighted that the data suggests that with existing resources we can improve the coverage that the service provides to all regions in Wales. Increased utilisation of both helicopters and rapid response vehicles will enable us to attend hundreds more critically ill or injured patients when they most need us.
"The data clearly shows that we still have people across Wales that we are unable to attend, due to several factors, and at the same time, we have transport and clinicians who are underused in the current set up. That needs to change and the results of this analysis could help us deliver real benefits to our patients."
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