NEWS HEALTH POLITICS

More cash demanded for air ambulance

Russell George, the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Montgomeryshire, is urging the Welsh Government to allocate extra funding to support the Wales Air Ambulance and ensure the continuation of its base in Welshpool.

1 year ago   2 minutes read    1,672 views

The image for More cash demanded for air ambulance
 
Share            Listen to the story

Russell George, the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Montgomeryshire, is urging the Welsh Government to allocate extra funding to support the Wales Air Ambulance and ensure the continuation of its base in Welshpool.

The plea comes amid an ongoing review of the air ambulance service in Wales, which has sparked significant controversy and opposition within local communities.

  Sign up for All About Newtown Daily

Our new free daily information email service. Sign up below by entering your email address.

Led by Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner Stephen Harrhy, the independent review recently completed its initial phase of engagement on June 16th. Harrhy emphasized that no final decisions have been made following the initial Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) proposal put forth in 2022.

Public engagement for the review began in March 2023, with the aim of gathering feedback and addressing comments and queries to improve the air ambulance service throughout Wales.

The proposed closure of the Welshpool and Caernarfon bases has become a contentious issue, resulting in strong opposition from communities in the region.

Russell George MS, together with other campaigners, has actively campaigned to safeguard the Air Ambulance base in Mid Wales. During a recent session of Health Minister's questions, he queried Eluned Morgan MS, the Minister for Health, about the Welsh Government's willingness to provide financial support if new proposals were presented to maintain existing bases and establish additional bases in other parts of Wales.

In his address to the Minister, Mr. George asked:

"Can I ask you, Minister, if a proposal came forward that retained the current bases with suggestions of further bases that were appropriate in other areas of Wales that would need a greater financial resource, would that be something that you'd be willing to consider?"

In response, Eluned Morgan MS stated,

"We are not in a position to start committing to resources that are already difficult to find in the system. So, it will be difficult for me to do that. Obviously, I'll wait until I see what comes forward. If there's a good clinical case for it, then we'll have to obviously consider that."

Currently, the Wales Air Ambulance Service receives partial funding from the Welsh Government through an agreement between a service within the Welsh NHS and the Air Ambulance Charity.

Reflecting on the questions raised in the Senedd, Mr. George expressed his surprise, stating, "It was a huge surprise when proposals came forward last August to close bases in Welshpool and Caernarfon, with the proposals based on dubious data."

Underlining the importance of the Wales Air Ambulance service to Mid Wales, he added, "The Wales Air Ambulance service is of great importance to us in Mid Wales. We are told that the proposals to reconfigure services across Wales are not about cost savings, but it is also suggested that the service could be enhanced and reach more people if base locations are changed."

As discussions unfold regarding the future of the Wales Air Ambulance service, stakeholders and communities eagerly await a resolution that ensures the uninterrupted provision of this vital emergency service while addressing concerns raised by various parties.

Looking ahead to the options expected later this year, Mr. George is now urging the Minister to demonstrate her willingness to increase financial support for the service. This could potentially facilitate expansion, the establishment of additional bases across Wales, and the preservation of critical bases such as the one in Welshpool.

Mr. George believes that the Minister's indication of a potential funding increase, based on a strong clinical case, should be taken into account during the consideration of options by Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner Stephen Harrhy.

You've viewed 1 stories so far!

All About Newtown is an independent not-for-profit online news and information service for the town of Newtown in Mid Wales. We provide ad-free content, so rely on reader subscriptions and donations to run.

  Donate via PayPal

Related or similar stories based on this one

Image for the article Air Ambulance legal challenge advances further
Air Ambulance legal challenge advances further

1 month ago

Image for the article Politicians call for expansion of Air Ambulance service
Politicians call for expansion of Air Ambulance service

1 year ago

Image for the article 2nd phase of Air Ambulance review begins
2nd phase of Air Ambulance review begins

1 year ago

Business of the Week
The Beauty Storm

Shortbridge Street

Follow us

Connect with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Google News

     

Trending
Shop to close after nearly a century

20 hours ago

MP speaks out on Assisted Dying vote

2 days ago

Opinion: Support Our Local Newtown Shops this Christmas

1 day ago

Donate to us

We're a not-for-profit community interest company and have no corporate owners. We'd appreciate anything you can give to keep us providing free content.

  Donate via PayPal
Upcoming Events
Festive Music Chamber

03/12/24 07:00pm

Fire Experience Day

04/12/24 10:00am

The Wicked Witches Of Oz

05/12/24 07:00pm

Latest Stories
Changes to health provision go live today

2 hours ago

Soakaway work commencing this week

9 hours ago

See what's on next week in our area (W49)

19 hours ago