Crunch air ambulance meetings take place this week

Campaigners trying save North Powys's air ambulance base have been heartened by the release of data and preferred options ahead of a second round of engagement starting this week.

Newtown launches Phase 2 on Friday of the process to decide the charity’s future operating services in Mid and North Wales, but last night Chief Ambulance Service Commissioner, Stephen Harrhy, who is leading the independent process, published a 45-page document that outlines the outcomes from Phase 1 held earlier this year.

The report shows that in closing Welshpool and Caernarfon and moving to a central north east base at Rhuddlan, only three extra call outs will happen per year, and flight times are only marginally quicker on average – just 38 seconds according to the data. In fact, it shows they can be quicker if an extra road vehicle is added to the current bases.

However, Welshpool’s cause is not helped by the report highlighting that 20 operational days have been lost due to flooding at the airport over the past two years.

The new public engagement phase will last a month, and a final decision is expected by the year-end.

While you can read the full report here, in summary the six options are: 

The six options

Scenario 1: Status Quo – Keeping things as they are now
Scenario 2: Existing Bases / Existing Capacity – Testing different shift times 14:00 – 02:00 and 20:00 – 08:00 for crews at the existing bases. 

Scenario 3: Consolidated Base / Existing Capacity – Merging two bases into one at a centralised location and testing different shift times 08:00 – 20:00, 14:00 – 02:00 and 20:00 – 08:00 for crews at this base. 

Scenario 4: Consolidated Base / Additional Capacity – Taking the best variation for scenario 3, and adding an extra car crew in a different location and testing different shift times 08:00 – 20:00, 14:00 – 02:00 and 20:00 – 08:00 for this crew. 

Scenario 5: Status Quo / Additional Capacity – Taking the status quo and adding an extra crew to some bases and testing different shift times 14:00 – 02:00 and 20:00 – 08:00. 

Scenario 6: Existing Bases / Additional Capacity – Taking the best variation for scenario 2, and adding an extra car crew in a different location and testing different shift times 08:00 – 20:00, 14:00 – 02:00 and 20:00 – 08:00 for this crew.

How prominent compaigners have responded…

Montgomeryshire MP, Craig Williams:

“The report contains maps showing flying times of 24 minutes from the existing bases at Welshpool and Caernarfon, which highlights how both locations are already superbly placed to serve all of North and Mid Wales.

“The report also states that 90% of the public want to be reassured that a plan is in place to support patients to the same standard as today. Given the multitude of issues we have seen in this process so far, it is not unreasonable for people to have concerns that we will be left with no plan and a poorer service if bases are closed. 

“Rural areas have a critical need for an Air Ambulance being based within our locality, and the strength of feeling of residents across Mid Wales in favour of retaining the Welshpool base comes through clearly in the report.”

Plaid Cymru Montgomeryshire candidate and county councillor Elwyn Vaughan:

“In view of the fact that centralising things at Rhuddlan only facilitate three extra call outs a year - it has to be accepted that is well within the margin of error with such data.

“It also has to be noted that in keeping Welshpool & Caernarfon bases ‘the overall response duration’ - which is listed as being from the clock start time to the vehicle's arrival time, rather than the time the vehicle is travelling - is listed as being quicker if both bases are retained and a vehicle is added.

“One can only conclude therefore that all this confirms the need to keep both bases and any alleged benefit of moving to Rhuddlan is marginal to say the least and worrying for Mid Wales residents. It is imperative that a united voice continues calling for the bases to be kept.

“The analysis shows that option 4 would lead to the most "arrivals" - ie. the Air Ambulance arriving at a call-out - with 2,904 per year, with an average "reflex" time of 24 minutes and 12 seconds - 38 seconds less than option 6.

“Option 6, which would see Welshpool keep its base, would allow for 2,901 responses, averaging 24 minutes and 50 seconds.

“But the overall response ‘duration’ - which is listed as being from the clock start time to the vehicle's arrival time, rather than the time the vehicle is travelling - is listed as being quicker if both bases are retained and a vehicle is added.”

Welshpool County Councillor, Graham Breeze:

“I haven’t yet had the opportunity to study this report in detail but what I have seen so far does not convince me that there is a strong enough case produced to make a decision to close the bases at Welshpool and Caernarfon.

“Nothing I have seen convinces me that the people of the Welshpool area and indeed the rest of Mid Wales will not be massively disadvantaged by closing the Welshpool base.

“And there is nothing obvious to suggest the gap between Option 4 an Option 6 is enough to justify such a massive upheaval and the potential financial loss from supporters across Mid and North West Wales – together with the risk of lost lives in our rural communities.”

This week’s public engagement events:

• Welshpool Town Hall, Public Drop-in, Thursday, October 12, 12:00 - 15:00

• Welshpool High School, Public Meeting, Thursday, October 12, 18:30 - 19:30

• Hafren Theatre - Newtown Campus, Public Drop-in, Friday October 13, 12:00 - 15:00

• Newtown High School, Public Meeting, Friday October 13, 18:30 - 19:30 

You can also engage with the consultation by visiting https://easc.nhs.wales/engagement/sdp/