The date for the public consultation on the permanent future of the Air Ambulance base in Welshpool has been confirmed by the Welsh Health Minister.

The Wales Air Ambulance Charity confirmed earlier this month that the base would be staying open until at least 2026 however the long term future of the base is yet to be decided after news about the potential closure was revealed by the County Times in August.   

Health Minister Eluned Morgan MS confirmed today (March 8) that the consultation on the future of the base is set to begin at the end of the month following questioning from Montgomeryshire’s Member of the Senedd, Russell George.

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“I expect the formal engagement process to commence by the end of March. So, by the end of this this month, I hope that your constituents will have the opportunity to have their say,” said Ms Morgan.

“I know how passionately they feel about this, and I think it is important. I've been looking again to make sure that—actually, the criteria that we're looking at need to be the right criteria.”

Mr George has been critical of the roll out of the consultation, describing the communication around it as “pretty abysmal” and is warning his constituents that the recent news does not mean that the service is safe.

“I was pleased with the news that the base in Welshpool has been saved for a further three years, but people across Montgomeryshire and beyond want to ensure that it remains in perpetuity,” said Mr George.

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“The Minister this week confirmed to me that that we can now expect the engagement process to start this month. This means we can expect to have details about public meetings, and how people can present their views.

“You may have signed a petition, or already made your views known, but I want to highlight, it is vital that once this formal process starts, you must again register your view, it is important that everyone responds to the formal engagement so views are actually recorded.”

“Because the news last week was only a reprieve – the fight goes on to secure a base that remains in Mid Wales for decades to come.”