‘Disgraceful’: Anger over Caernarfon air ambulance base closure recommendation

Anger has been expressed after a report was published recommending the closure of the Caernarfon and Welshpool air ambulance bases.

The review published today by the Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner for Wales has suggested that a new base should be created elsewhere in North Wales instead.

A total of 1,718 potential locations in north and mid-Wales were assessed, with a location south of Rhyl/Rhuddlan identified ‘as the most effective area showing significant increases in incident coverage’.

The “EMRTS” or Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service is a pre-hospital critical care service run in partnership between the Wales Air Ambulance charity, Welsh Government and NHS Wales.

The air ambulance service runs a fleet of four Airbus H145 helicopters from the charity’s current sites in Dafen, Cardiff, Caernarfon and Welshpool – with the latter two now likely to close.

The plans have drawn strong criticism amid fears that emergency medical service coverage in rural parts of north-west and mid-Wales could suffer as a result.

In a joint statement Dwyfor Merionydd representatives Liz Saville Roberts MP and Mabon ap Gwynfor MS said: “This is a disgraceful and short-sighted decision which will have far reaching implications for the safety of people across north-west and mid Wales, not to mention the reputational damage it will inevitably cause the charity.

“People have donated thousands of pounds to the Wales Air Ambulance on the understanding that it provides a timely emergency medical response to communities across north-west and mid Wales.

“This decision is a backwards step in the delivery of emergency medical care across our rural communities – driven by questionable data and a flawed consultation process.’

“The Welsh Labour Government had the ability and ample opportunity to influence and to intervene in this process but chose to say nothing.”

The report notes that the population of North Wales is currently without air ambulance cover after 8pm.

There are approximately 530,000 in the uncovered area, equating to around 75% of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board population.

The report also details “unmet need”, defined as any incident where a critical need is identified but no EMRTS resource is available to respond.

The population of North Wales has the highest level of unmet need, particularly after 8pm.

The report details a total of four recommendations as follows:

• Recommendation 1 – The committee approves the consolidation of the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Services currently operating at Welshpool and Caernarfon bases into a single site in North Wales.
• Recommendation 2 – The committee requests that the charity secures an appropriately located operational base in line with the findings of this report.
• Recommendation 3 – The committee requires that a joint plan is developed by EMRTS and the charity, that maintains service provision across Wales during the transition to a new base and that this plan is included within the committee’s commissioning arrangements.
• Recommendation 4 – The committee approves the development of a commissioning proposal for bespoke road-based enhanced and/or critical care services in rural and remote areas.

The recommendations will be considered at a meeting of the Emergency Ambulance Services Joint Committee being held on March 19th.

Ms Saville-Roberts and Mr ap Gwynfor have raised the possibility of a judicial review if the plans move forward.

They said: “The air ambulance is the difference between life and death in many rural areas across Wales such as Meirionnydd, Pen Llyn, the north of Ceredigion, Ynys Mon, and Maldwyn – in areas already compromised by lengthy ambulance wait times.’

“The service offered by both Caernarfon and Welshpool Air Ambulance bases are vital and it is immensely regrettable that rural Wales looks set to suffer the consequences of a centralised base in north-east Wales.

“Every option must now be explored by campaigners to challenge this decision, including the possibility of a judicial review.”

Russell George MS, the Welsh Conservatives’ Shadow Health Minister, said: “This is worrying news for the communities across rural Wales who rely on the specialised services of the Wales Air Ambulance.

“Communities in Mid and North Wales rely on an air ambulance service to make up for the poorer, more sparse local health provision, lack of district general hospitals and road access issues.

“It is imperative that the Labour Health Minister intervenes, urgently. The people of Mid and North Wales need and deserve a reliable service when there is need for urgent emergency care.”