Final decision denials and direct debit cancellations

Wales's Health Minister claims no final decision has yet been made on the future of the Wales Air Ambulance base in north Powys, despite evidence to the contrary as reported by MyNewtown.

Following a final report being made public, which outlines recommendations that would see the closure of Welshpool’s Air Ambulance base, the Welsh Health Minister, Eluned Morgan MS, responded to Montgomeryshire MS Russell George in the Senedd claiming that no final decision has been made. 

Meanwhile, many MyNewtown and MyWelshpool readers have said they are stopping direct debits to the air ambulance charity over the plans to close the base at Welshpool Airport.
 
Russell George, Senedd Member for Montgomeryshire, also raised concerns about how meaningful the engagement process had been.

The intervention comes after a process spanning eighteen months in which three engagement phases, 45 meetings and tens of thousands of letters and signatures on petitions made it clear that the overwhelming view of Mid Wales residents was that Welshpool should remain open.

Following the exchange in the Senedd, Mr George said: “Analysis of the full-service review document, recommending closure, showed that while Welshpool covers 40% of Wales' population within 30 minutes by air, the proposed alternative base only covers 25%.
 
"Maps published as part of the report also show clearly that a large proportion of Mid Wales, from the coast to the border, will be significantly worse off in response times compared to current position."
 
He added: "Closing the Welshpool base cannot be an option. This is why I asked the Minister to intervene. I pointed out to the Minister that we have consistently been told nobody would be worse off with changes to the service. The recommendations that have now become public, would lead to slower response times for us in Mid Wales. There's no doubt about that.
 
"I also questioned what impact the engagement process had. Many will feel this was a done deal from the start. The Minister has claimed that no final decision has been made, so she along with her Welsh Government colleagues now have the opportunity to intervene.’’  
 
Mr George, along with Craig Williams MP and other campaigners, are pushing for individual health boards to reject the proposals during their own opportunity to comment in the coming days.

Montgomeryshire residents have donated and raised millions for the charity over the years, and with £12 million needed every single year to run, many are hitting them where it hurts most.

“Tough decision, but cancelled my direct debit today,” one told us, while another said: “It’s the only way they will listen to us, so have cancelled mine and won’t be paying into any collection buckets again too”.

Over two dozen readers indicated they have, or would be cancelling, their monthly donations but one elderly reader went one step further.

“I have always contributed monthly to the Air Ambulance and raised thousands over the years but never again after this,” she said. “I will also be contacting my solicitor to remove them from my will. They have let us all down.”

The recommendation to close the base will now be put to a committee consisting of the heads of all Wales’s health boards who will take the final vote on March 19.