A cash handout from the government of more than £300,000, which would help keep three air ambulance helicopters flying across the region, was today called into question.
Welsh Health Minister Edwina Hart said this week that she was providing £337,000 for the service, which covers Mid Wales, this year.
Ms Hart said: “This will allow the Air Ambulance to cover the full salary costs of its paramedic team. In return, I expect a full review of the way in which Air Ambulance services are provided in Wales, including an examination of current protocols, location, usage and deployment of existing helicopters.”
The announcement was initially welcomed by AMs, including Montgomery-shire’s Mick Bates.
But yesterday the Wales Air Ambulance Charitable Trust said it would not see any of the extra funding itself.
Angela Hughes, chief executive of Wales Air Ambulance Charitable Trust, said: “We need to be clear on this, there is no money coming to the charity from the government.
“The ambulance trust has been providing the paramedics free of charge to us as per our original agreement with them in 2001. Obviously the wage costs have risen with the service and they have to find their salaries.
“The charity receives no money from the government for the helicopters, medical equipment, pilots, airbase, in fact nothing except the paramdecis provided.
“If this payment to the ambulance trust is going to be a one-off then this could mean that the charity has to find extra monies - around £300,000 - each year to fund the paramedics too.
“The charity still needs to raise over £3 million each year for the three operational air ambulances.”
When he was told of Angela Hughes’s statement on the announcement, Mick Bates said he was confused.
“I was certain that the money announced by the minister was extra funding. I am going to immediately put down a question on this,” he said. Mr Bates said the Air Ambulance Service was vital in Mid Wales.
“Mid Wales presents a particular challenge for the Ambulance Service with a dispersed population and poor infrastructure, which makes for lengthy journeys to reach those in need.”
By Deborah Knox
2 Comments
the air ambulance deserves all the money, i dont care if it goes on equipment or the paramedics, its going on a good cause and they do a really really good job saving lives!!!
I HAVE DONE A LOT OF VOLUNTRY WORK FOR DIFERENT CHARITYS FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS ESPESIALLY THE AIR AMBULANCE.AND FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHY THE AIR AMBULANCE HAS BEEN CALLED OUT AS THEY WERE NOT NEEDED TO MANY OF THE ACCIDENTS.LIKE THE ACCIDENT ON THE SHREWSBURY TO TELFORD ROAD A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN A WOMAN WALKED OUT ONTO THE DUAL CARRAGEWAY AND WAS KILLED INSTANTLY BY A HGV LORRY.SURELY THERE WAS NO NEED TO CALL THE AIR AMBULANCE OUT. IS IT THE POLICE THAT CALL THE AIR AMBULANCE OUT IF SO THEY ARE WASTING A LOT OF VALUBLE MONEY THAT COULD BE SAVED FOR NESASERY AIR AMBULANCE JOURNEYS