Senedd members to debate future of North Powys air ambulance

Members of the Senedd will be asked to take a position next week on a series of healthcare issues affecting Powys, including the future of the North Powys air ambulance base and delays to cross-border NHS treatment.

The debate, scheduled for Wednesday (March 25), follows amendments tabled by Montgomeryshire MS Russell George, which have been accepted for consideration.

The proposals will require Senedd Members to vote on several issues, including the closure of the Welshpool and Caernarfon air ambulance bases, waiting times for Powys patients receiving treatment in England, and the funding of Powys Teaching Health Board.

Mr George said the aim of the amendments is to ensure that the concerns of Powys residents are formally recognised by all political parties ahead of the next Welsh Government being formed.

He said: “There will be a new Government in May, and I want to force all the parties represented in the Senedd to clearly nail their colours to the mast on important health issues affecting the people of Powys.”

The future of the Welshpool air ambulance base has been a long-running and controversial issue locally, with concerns raised about the potential impact on emergency response times in rural areas.

Mr George said: “The decision to close the Welshpool air ambulance base was totally unacceptable and will put lives at risk.

“When the Welshpool and Caernarfon bases close, we will receive slower emergency response times. Residents in Mid and North Wales are entitled to receive the same level of care and rapid emergency response as those in urban areas.”

The Senedd debate is also expected to address ongoing concerns about cross-border healthcare, with many Powys residents relying on NHS services in England.

Mr George claimed that some patients face delays in treatment despite available capacity across the border.

He said: “Powys patients continue to face an unacceptable situation where treatment available across the border is being delayed, even though English providers have the capacity to treat them sooner.”

The funding of Powys Teaching Health Board is also set to be raised, with Mr George arguing that current funding arrangements do not reflect the challenges of delivering healthcare in a large, rural county.

He said: “The Welsh Government’s failure to properly fund Powys Health Board lies at the root of problems.”

However, Welsh Government ministers have previously said that decisions around service configuration, including air ambulance provision, are based on clinical evidence and national planning, and that funding is allocated using established formulas.

The outcome of Wednesday’s vote will not directly determine policy but could signal the priorities of parties ahead of the Senedd elections in May.

Mr George added: “By forcing a vote on these issues, I hope Senedd Members agree that Powys residents should not be treated as second-class citizens simply because of where they live.”