Health leaders opt for wider public opinion on rural rapid response vehicles amid Wales Air Ambulance move

Recommendation four of a review called for the development of a bespoke rapid response vehicle service in rural and remote areas following the closure of the Welshpool base. 

However, officials have now made clear that enhanced response cars would be just one possible option, rather than a predetermined solution.

A fully developed proposal is expected to be presented to the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC) in November 2026.

The update comes as the Wales Air Ambulance Charity confirmed that a consolidated air ambulance base in North Wales will not become operational until the first or second quarter of 2027/28. 

NWJCC Committee members were told at a meeting on Tuesday that planning approval has yet to be secured, and commercial discussions are still ongoing.

Ross Whitehead, director of commissioning for ambulance services, said the delay provides time for the committee to consider recommendation four independently.

He said: “This provides a substantial planning window for the committee to appropriately consider the delivery of recommendation four on its own timeline, without dependency on the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service and the air ambulance estate programme.

“Recommendation 4 can be treated as a standalone programme focused on improving rural and remote ambulance response and not as mitigation for, or a condition of changes to EMERTS base configuration.”

Montgomeryshire Senedd Member and some of the Welshpool Air Ambulance campaign group recently met with the NWJCC chairman Ian Green.

He said they were keen to be engaged in the process and they expect that no action on the amalgamated air ambulance base take place before action is taken on recommendation four.

Three options were presented to the committee. The first was to take no action and not implement recommendation four. The second was to proceed with a previously endorsed two-car enhanced model. The third was to re-engage with the public and develop a wider rural ambulance improvement proposal.

Mr Whitehead said the period before the new air ambulance base becomes operational could be used to consult with rural communities and Llais, the public’s voice on health matters. This would help clarify that recommendation four is focused on improving rural ambulance response rather than air ambulance bases, while also identifying current and emerging concerns.

The proposal would draw on the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust’s rural response assessment, the national performance framework, and consider improvements to recruitment, deployment, care pathways, workforce mix, and clinical support. Enhanced response vehicles would remain one possible option among others.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Chief Executive Carol Shillabeer stressed the importance of involving all rural communities, not just those directly affected by air ambulance changes. She said there was a need to avoid delays.

Powys Teaching Health Board Chief Executive Hayley Thomas highlighted the strength of feeling on the issue and called for greater clarity on the proposed model, timeline, and process.

Lay committee member Nia Roberts added: “The quicker that we can move on with something that fulfils the needs of the rural communities the better. We don’t want this to stall, it’s very important.”

Members ultimately agreed to proceed with option three, committing to further public engagement and the development of a broader rural ambulance improvement plan.