The public's views on the future of the Wales Air Ambulance have been revealed - and they show a majority of people want the bases to stay where they are.
The results of the public meetings on the future of the Welshpool base held over the county over the last year show that there was a “consensus of support” for the option which would see the bases kept where they are with extra vehicles – which was advocated by the County Times earlier this year.
In a report given to the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee, who ran the previous period of public talks, it was found: “there is a very real fear in these rural communities that they have lost so much in the way of public services, whether that is education, primary care, secondary care, public transport, banks, post offices – there is a general sense of having lost an awful lot already.
“It was very much conveyed to us that options to change the service would just be a 'final nail in the coffin'.”
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In the meeting it was confirmed that after the intervention of statutory body Llais a third set of public conversations would be required in February.
It was confirmed that “the consultation would be for a four-week period, online during February 2024 and in order to address the needs of the digitally excluded, the health board engagement teams will provide local opportunities for their populations to be supported to contribute to this important opportunity.”
The final shortlisted option will be made public during this process, including the preferred recommendation that will be sent to Wales’ local health boards for consideration.
The decision by Llais to intervene, and the subsequent move by the EASC to go ahead with further discussions with the public, means that the final decision of the base has now been delayed until March 19.
Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner, Stephen Harrhy said he was “disappointed to say the least” about the intervention from Llais and the delay it had caused.
“We had worked with them in a collaborative manner for the whole of this process so to get a letter like that was little disappointing,” said Mr Harrhy.
The Wales Air Ambulance charity have also voiced their dismay at the delay to the decision in a letter to the Emergency Ambulance Service Comission.
“This is causing the charity a lot of difficulty,” said Mr Harrhy. “I am grateful for how they have stayed with us on this process."
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