The last chance for you to have your say on the future of the Air Ambulance base on Welshpool is happening this weekend.
The public engagement on the future of the base will end this Sunday (November 12) before a final decision is made on its long-term future.
The future of the base has been in doubt after it was revealed in the County Times that the Welshpool and Caernarfon bases could be closed.
Many residents have written open letters to the committee running the consultation. Adrian Davies from Newtown, in a letter to the committee running the public engagement, said: “I have first-hand experience of the job the air ambulance has done.
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"11 years ago, after a family party, my youngest son – then 11 months old went instantly very ill. Luckily, the road ambulance turned up at our door in Newtown within eight minutes and my son was rushed off and given drugs for Meningitis.
“By the time the road ambulance was near Welshpool things had taken a turn they radioed the Air Ambulance which started it's engines up. My wife and son were then air lifted from the airbase to Shrewsbury hospital and my son was then put into a coma for the next week, after being resuscitated multiple times in the air and in the hospital.
“So, without the air ambulance being close to hand and in a good location my son wouldn't be round today and have a normal life.”
Dr Roger Blunden of Llafihangel yng Ngwynfa said there was no “solid justification” for any potential move and said: “There is a strong emotional attachment to the Welshpool base. It is seen as ‘our’ base and this is reflected in the substantial donations raised in the area. These are important considerations, to be taken into account alongside the hard figures.”
Montgomeryshire representatives Craig Williams MP and Russell George MS have sent out a letter to residents urging them to make their voices heard.
In the letter they said: “It is clear that closing the Welshpool and Caernarfon bases and to open a new base in North Wales at Rhuddlan is still a very serious threat. It is now critically important that we have one last big push to feed our views into the final consultation.
“We would urge you to write a letter, email or provide a telephone message before the end of the closing date.”
Since the news was announced last year an organised campaign has been set up across the county which has seen petitions been signed by thousands and organisers such as Cynthia Duce are urging people to back option 6 which would keep the bases in Welshpool and Caernarfon.
“We want to keep our helicopter based at Welshpool Airport,” said Mrs Duce. “What happens to the people of Mid Wales who have no hospitals or access to A&E Facilities, option 6 is the best one keep the helicopters where they are and put an RRV in North East Wales.
“Our rural lives here in Mid Wales do matter.”
Chief Ambulances Services Commissioner, Stephen Harrhy, who is running the public engagement, said: “I would like to thank all participants for their continued feedback, whether that has been in-person at the drop-in sessions and meetings, or by phone and online.
“I have emphasised throughout both phases of engagement that the purpose of this Review is to ensure that as many people as possible benefit from the excellent clinical outcomes that the critical care teams of EMRTS deliver (in partnership with the Wales Air Ambulance Charity).
“I’ve heard lots from communities about how highly valued this service is and I thank all respondents again, for taking the time to engage with me on this matter.”
“At this stage there is no ‘preferred’ option, and therefore no ‘recommendation’. This is why, I am encouraging public and stakeholders to comment on the options developed where I am still listening to feedback before going through an evaluation process that will eventually lead to a recommendation for the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee to consider and ultimately decide on.”
To have your say on the future of the base you can email: eascservicereviewqueries@wales.nhs.uk or phone, posting a letter to ‘EMRTS Feedback’, EASC/NCCU, Unit 1, Charnwood Court, Heol Billingsley, Nantgarw, CF15 7QZ or leaving an answerphone message on 01443 471520.
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