The public engagement process over the Wales Air Ambulance Trust’s proposals to close its Welshpool base was scheduled to commence on January 9th, but has now been pushed back to an as yet unknown date, writes Craig Williams MP.

After the raft of confusion and miscommunication that has surrounded the Trust’s plans since they were first leaked in August last year, it is very disappointing that uncertainty regarding its consultation process remains.

The campaign against the proposals continues at a pace, and last week I met with a number of local politicians and campaigners to discuss the vital points we feel need to be made during the forthcoming engagement period.

Indications appear to be that the consultation will now begin in early February, and I will communicate any updates as soon as I have them.

Clearly within the last few weeks, we have seen unprecedented pressures on the NHS and ambulance trusts, both locally and nationally.

OTHER NEWS:

Healthcare is my number one priority at present, and behind the scenes I have been speaking with the Department for Health, the Welsh Government and local health boards to urgently discuss capacity issues within A&E and urgent care units.

Russell George MS and I also last week met with officials from the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to seek assurances against claims that patients in Welsh Ambulances are waiting longer to be admitted than those from the West Midlands.

The hospital has assured us this is not the case, and admissions are purely made on the basis of clinical priority.

Our discussions will continue with both the hospital and the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust to ensure both sides’ working practices are full integrated for maximum benefit to Montgomeryshire patients.

Last month I received an update from the Home Office regarding the excellent progress of 16 new Extended Area Services (EAS) masts across Montgomeryshire. Once live, the masts will provide crucial emergency services and 4G coverage for the majority of the constituency.

Planning approval has now been completed for nearly all of the sites, and all masts are set to be activated by the end of 2024 at the latest.

Once mast builds are completed and powered, they will be transferred to EE for connection to the core network and activated for the Emergency Services Network. All UK mobile operators will then have opportunity to provide commercial services to the masts.

This infrastructure, part of the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network programme, is a major step forward in eradicating mobile not-spots across Montgomeryshire for good and allowing many more of us to gain access to fast and sweeping 4G coverage across the area.

As your Member of Parliament, I try and make myself as accessible as possible to any issues you have. Over the coming months I have advice surgeries and community meetings lined up across Montgomeryshire. The next two surgeries are:

• Friday, January 20th at The Horseshoe Inn, Arddleen from 5-6:30pm (with Cllr Lucy Roberts)

• Friday, February 3rd at Trewern Community Centre from 5-6:30pm (with Cllr Amanda Jenner)

Please do call in, or alternatively make an appointment if there is anything you would like to discuss or raise with me. As ever, I can be contacted at craig.williams.mp@parliament.uk / 01938 552315.