Today’s meeting of Powys Teaching Health Board revealed a number of details about the condition of the charity and the process of the public consultation.

Plans to keep the base open were considered “too expensive”

Medical Director at Powys Teaching Health Board Kate Wright confirmed that the proposal to keep the bases open as they are were rejected due for being “too expensive” despite havin some of the best health gains.

She also confirmed that despite hundreds of pages of documents being made available, they had not received anything to show the calculations on this and why it had been not chosen as the preferred option.

Costs are rising for the charity

Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner Stephen Harrhy claimed that the new aviation contract for the Wales Air Ambulance charity was now costing them 25 per cent more.

Mr Harrhy who was at the meeting to explain the details in the proposals which would see the Welshpool base closed, said that the charity needed stability due to rising costs and

He went on to add this included its new contract with Gamma aviation which he said cost 25 per cent more than its previous aviation contract.  

The board had already rejected the plans last month

Whilst the board voted not to back the plans today, they had previously voted down the plans for exactly the same reason only a few weeks ago.

After the final meeting of the Emergency Ambulance Services Commission in March the board had voted not go ahead with the plans as there was lack of detail. This was exactly the same reason given today when the board once again refused to approve the plans.

Llais feel the public in Powys have not been taken into account

Katie Backburn representing Llais, an independent government body who represent the public’s views on health and social care matters, said that they have sent multiple letters about the lack of attention being paid to public opinion in Powys.

Ms Blackburn pointed out that there had been over 30,000 signatures on a public petition and that two thirds of all the feedback on the plans had come from Powys residents.

She added that there had been “insufficient details about the recommendations” and that “Powys and rural Wales were not convinced of the benefits of the plans” adding she was “concerned that a decision is being sought before that work to redress this has been undertaken”.

Mr Harrhy defended his work and said that he “understands the strength of feeling in the area” and that the plan to create a bespoke land ambulance service was in direct response to those concerns.