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November 2023 Newsletter
Welcome to my November 2023 Newsletter
I wanted to focus this newsletter almost entirely on one topic – asking for your help in securing the future of the Mid Wales Air Ambulance base.
The final phase of consultation considering changes to the locations of the Welsh Air Ambulance base closes on November 12th
I send out my newsletter early because I want to encourage people to respond.
Craig Williams MP and I have included our response with a link to our letter which you could use to help inform your own response – every response matters.
It is vitally important that we have "one last push" to give our clear community view that the Welshpool centre should remain open long term.
As always, if I can help you with an issue or concern, please contact me by email – [email protected]
Air Ambulance - Engagement Process
Have your say on the final time to save the Welsh Air Ambulance base in Welshpool
Earlier this month, the final phase of a consultation opened considering possible changes to the locations of the Welsh Air Ambulance base.
The engagement and consultation process is being led by Stephen Harrhy, Chief Commissioner of the Welsh Ambulance Service who will make a recommendation to the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee who will then make a final decision, which will include the future of the Mid Wales Air Ambulance base in Welshpool.
This is the last chance to give your opinion before the decision is made in December. We think the Welshpool centre should stay open long term.
From the outset of this process, our main concern has been that the closure of Welshpool and Caernarfon would result in a poorer service to Mid Wales. This has now been demonstrated through data modelling by Optima, a company commissioned as part of the process to explore the potential impacts of any change. Their work has clearly shown that merging centres at a single site in North East Wales would lead to slower overall response times in Mid Wales.
We wanted to write to you about the serious concerns we still have and why we strongly believe the Welshpool site should remain open to avoid service downgrades in Mid Wales.
- The modelling shows that the benefit of closing the Welshpool and Caernarfon centres and opening one new site in North West Wales would be just three extra trips a year. This is evident within the lure of error. Following the plans originally released by accident, we were told that an additional 583 trips a year across the whole of Wales would be undertaken – a claim that has now been dismissed. The company that provided the modelling has said they are considering retaining both centres (Welshpool and Caernarfon) as a good option.
- At the start of this final consultation period, it was said that any impact from changes would be "small". If so, we would question the need for existing centres to close which would lead to ongoing local concern.
- If only one centre served the Mid and North Wales area, bad weather could mean the two air ambulances based at the same site could fail to be operational. Currently, separate centres provide extra protection if one centre is affected by bad weather or other events.
- It has already been said that the need for change is about patient outcomes, not economics. During the final consultation, it now appears that economics was a factor in the final recommendation. We have concerns that the closure of Welshpool and Caernarfon will also affect the charity's ability to raise funds.
- The questionnaire completed at the initial consultation may not have gathered all relevant views. For example, he asked people to think about whether the whole of Wales should have
equal service that is clearly likely to be answered in the affirmative. This can be used to make the case for reorganising the centres. Equal service across Wales does not mean providing the same service everywhere. Many rural areas such as ours do not have a general hospital in the local area, or reasonable access to A&E facilities, which strengthens the case for a local Air Ambulance service.
It is clear that the closure of Welshpool and Caernarfon and the opening of a new centre in North Wales in Rhuddlan remains a very serious threat. It is now vitally important that we put one last great effort into contributing our views to the final consultation.
We attended public meetings in Welshpool and Newtown on 12 and 13 October respectively, and many thanks to those who attended these meetings as well as the public meeting in Machynlleth.
The final consultation closes on 5 November. You can give your opinion like this:
• Post: ‘EMRTS Feedback’, EASC/NCCU, Uned 1, Charnwood Court, Heol Billingsley, Nantgarw, CF15 7QZ
• Email: [email protected]
• Online enquiry form: https://pgab.gig.cymru/ymrwymiad/age/
• Telephone answer line: 01443 471520
We would encourage you to write by letter, email, or provide a phone message before the deadline. You may wish to consider using the points raised above and making other comments. Ultimately, this is about identifying why keeping the centre in Welshpool is so important to you.
If you would like to receive Craig Williams MP's newsletter which also includes updates on Montgomeryshire news, you can visit: Craig Williams MP | Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire (craig-williams.org.uk)
