A legal challenge to the decision to close the Welshpool Air ambulance has been given the green light to proceed by a High Court judge.

A legal challenge to changes to Wales Air Ambulance Service which would see the closure of the Welshpool and Caernarfon bases is set to go ahead after being granted permission to proceed in a judgement today (October 9).  

The High Court will allow the case to come to a full hearing, meaning that the Judge has agreed that the case is arguable.

The case which being brought by Human Rights and Public Law team at Watkins & Gunn on behalf of campaigners across Wales who fear  the change could leave people living in remote and rural areas without sufficient emergency medical support.

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Montgomeryshire MS Russell George, who has been part of the legal challenge to keep the base, welcomed the news.

“The reconfiguration of Air Ambulance Critical Care services in Wales, from a point before any of us had heard of the proposal to close the bases, has been a process filled with bias, misinformation, and misdirection,” said Mr George.

“I’d like to thank supporters for their determination in seeing this through to a positive outcome. I also thank the Health Boards, clinicians, and other health professionals that have challenged or spoken out against the decision taken. 

“I still hope decision makers will re-consider this decision, and work to regain the trust of the communities of rural Wales without being forced to consider doing so by a judge.”

The application challenges the lawfulness of the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee’s (JCC) decision to adopt recommendations which would see changes to the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (“EMRTS”), including the permanent closure of Air Ambulance bases in Welshpool and Caernarfon.

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The review of the EMRTS was conducted by the Chief Ambulance Service Commissioner and involved three "public engagement" phases.

Despite widespread public opposition to the proposed changes to the service, the review ultimately recommended the closure of the bases located in Welshpool and Caernarfon, the identification of a new base in North Wales, and new times of operation.

“Our clients are pleased that the court has agreed that there is an arguable case that the JCC decision was made unlawfully,” said Lucy O’Brien, Director and Solicitor at Watkins and Gunn.

“Many of those who live in the rural and coastal parts of Mid and North Wales feel that their rights to Air Ambulance coverage will be eroded by the JCC decision.

“Their nearest accident and emergency facilities can be very distant. The Air Ambulance is a lifeline for many communities and there should not be any reduction in its coverage without extremely careful consideration of the ways in which the negative impacts of the changes can be mitigated.

“Our clients will continue to fight for an air ambulance base to remain in Mid Wales and to ensure that decision-making processes are conducted properly and fairly.”