Russell George MS and Craig Williams MP have said that a recommendation to close the Welshpool Air Ambulance base should be rejected.
The Welshpool base offers critical rapid response coverage for rural Mid Wales, helping people in urgent need to get potentially life-saving medical care in emergencies.
The formal engagement process found a swathe of concerns from local people about the proposed closure, alongside that of Caernarfon's base, including on response times and compromised care.
Over the next few days, individual regional health boards will give their own views. After this, these findings will be formally reviewed and agreed by the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee, covering all of Wales.
Craig Williams MP commented:
"Local campaigning has been very strong and I am extremely proud of the way that our communities have united to support this vital lifeline for our area. The people of Mid Wales have donated and fundraised for the air ambulance for many years precisely because they know how important it is."
“Ever since the plans to close Welshpool’s base were haphazardly leaked out in August 2022, the ensuing consultation and engagement process has been extremely poor.”
"The people of Mid Wales will rightfully question whether this was a done deal from the start."
Russell George MS said:
"This is appalling news. Welshpool's base has saved countless lives.
"Given we don’t have a District General Hospital in Powys, it is all the more important that we continue to have an air ambulance base in Mid Wales."
"I am calling on individual regions like Powys Teaching Health Board, who will have the final to reject the recommendation which clearly does not have the support of the of the public in Mid Wales."
"In the latest round of engagement, 66% of responses came from Powys. That is an impassioned cry from Mid Wales about the importance of this service."
Both said that they would now push hard for the committee to reject the recommendation and, if not, along with other campaigners, consider options of a legal challenge.
