South Wales health boards vote to close Welshpool Air Ambulance

The signs are ominous that North Powys's Air Ambulance base will lose the vote to stay open on April 23, after a lead campaigner said that the five south Wales health boards have stabbed us in the back.

There was optimism last week after Powys Teaching Health Board and Betsi Cadwallader University Health Board voted to oppose the plans to shut Caernarfon and Welshpool bases in favour of a new base in north east Wales.

That’s not surprising given they are the two health boards that are impacted by the closures, but last night, Welshpool County Councillor, Graham Breeze, revealed some grim news.

“Five health authorities have voted to approve the closures and two voted against,” said Cllr Breeze who joined a meeting yesterday with other lead campaigners with the new Chair and Chief Officer of the NHS Joint Commissioning Group.

“Yesterday I joined Craig Williams MP, Russ George MS, County Councillors Elwyn Vaughan and Joy Jones and members of the Campaign Group to meet with the new Chair and Chief Officer of the NHS Joint Commissioning Group,” he said.

“We expressed strong views, backed by real data, about the failings of the consultation process and the utter madness of closing Welshpool and Caernarfon Air Ambulance bases.

“Five health authorities have voted to approve the closures and two voted against.

“All the Health Boards will now meet on April 23 when a decision is expected.”

But Cllr Breeze said that even if the vote is lost next week, the fight will go on.

“I feel that this group has been misled throughout the consultation process but the fight goes on. If we have to go for a Judicial Review we will,” he said.