Campaigners have today (30/7/24) confirmed that a legal challenge is being sought to quash the decision to close air ambulance bases in Welshpool and Caernarfon.
Following a decision taken by the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC) in April to close and centralise the Welshpool and Caernarfon Air Ambulance bases, campaign groups in both areas have been working together to challenge the decision.
A statement today from campaigners in Mid and North Wales has confirmed that an application for judicial review has been issued at the High Court.
The JCC is made up of CEOs of Welsh Health Boards, and other Independent members. Despite strong opposition from residents in Mid and North Wales, most Welsh health boards voted in favour of these plans, with only Powys Teaching Health Board and Betsi Cadwaladr in north Wales opposing them.
Montgomeryshire MS Russell George said:
‘’The impact of this decision was hugely disappointing for us in mid Wales.’’
‘’The reconfiguration of Air Ambulance Critical Care services in Wales, from a point before any of us had heard of the proposal to close the bases, has been a process filled with bias, misinformation, and misdirection. A Judicial Review would allow a judge to re-evaluate the decision-making process and I believe it would bring much needed transparency and objectivity and examine to what extent the process delivered a predetermined outcome.’’
‘’Over the years, countless people have benefited from this life-saving service, and they have generously donated to and fundraised for it. I know that we all recognise the vital role that the Air Ambulance service plays in our area. The Welshpool Air Ambulance base should remain in operation.”
‘’I continue to work with others, and on a cross-party basis. The Judicial Review process is complex, but we now wait for further information following the application for judicial review now that it has been issued at the High Court”
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Below statement from the Campaign Groups.
Statement from ‘SAVE Welshpool Air Ambulance Base’ and ‘Save Caernarfon Air Ambulance’ Campaign Groups
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 has been brought by a local resident (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.
We will keep you posted on developments as further information is available.
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
