Last updated: 02/03/2023
With regards to the service reconfiguration proposals, in-depth research and analysis has been conducted by our NHS medical partners, the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS). The resulting EMRTS Service Development Proposal has been presented to both Charity Trustees and the NHS Wales Emergency Ambulance Services Committee (which is made up of the Chief Executives of every Welsh health board and the Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service).
In summary, the proposal indicated that through a reconfiguration of the air ambulance service (revision of base locations, a change in operational hours, an enhancement of after-dark flying), Wales Air Ambulance could attend hundreds more life or limb-threatening emergencies every year and every county of Wales would see an increase in the number of critically ill patients attended.
As the analysis has been conducted by EMRTS, the engagement process is aligned with NHS governance. The EMRTS Service Development Proposal is now subject to an independent process of scrutiny and public engagement, led by the Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner. The original EMRTS Service Development Proposal has now been superseded by what is called the EMRTS Service Review. Time has passed since the original data analysis and modelling in the initial proposal, meaning that there is more data and further analysis can be undertaken. This will be done, independently, by the Commissioner. I would strongly encourage you to engage with the Commissioner’s process to gain a detailed understanding of the proposals and to ask any questions that you may have.
Please visit https://easc.nhs.wales/engagement/sdp/ for an updated list of frequently asked questions.