A local AM has received assurances from the Welsh Government on the way in which specialist doctors will join Welshpool’s Air Ambulance crew from April 2015.
This follows last month’s welcome announcement that £3 million a year will be invested as part of a new service which will see consultants joining Air Ambulance crews from Welshpool.
From April 2015, the new service will provide 95% of the Welsh population with doctor-led care within 30 minutes. This will mean faster treatment for trauma injuries, strokes and heart attacks, potentially saving lives.
Following questions from Mr George, the Deputy Minister for Health, Vaughan Gething AM has provided assurances on how the service, which is the first national emergency response service in the UK, will work in practice.
Seven or eight additional emergency consultants will be recruited to complement existing staff from across Wales’ seven local health boards to support the initial 12 hour service.
Russell George, AM for Montgomeryshire, said:
“As a long-standing supporter of the Wales Air Ambulance, I am delighted that this initiative has gained Welsh Government support.
“I am pleased that the Deputy Minister has confirmed that additional consultants are being recruited to staff the doctor-led Air Ambulance service – attracting talented professionals to work in Wales.
“The Deputy Minister’s confirmation that these dedicated Emergency Department consultants will work over and above their existing rostered hours is also welcome news to ensure that there is no shortage of senior staff in hospitals around Wales.
“The announcement that a consultant/paramedic team will be permanently based at Welshpool and ready to go at 4 minutes’ notice is very welcome news for Mid Wales and a boost for the Air Ambulance Service.”