Controversial Wales Air Ambulance base closure plan to go before court this month, politician confirms
A legal challenge over the controversial closure of an air ambulance base will be heard at the High Court this month, a politician has confirmed.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
The application for a judicial review centres on the decision to cease operating Wales' Air Ambulance from Welshpool Airbase.
The hugely unpopular move was taken in April last year by the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC).
The committee, which is made up of Wales' health boards and independent members, approved the measure - despite Powys Teaching Health Board and Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board voting against it.
A legal challenge was launched over the decision, requesting a judicial review of the lawfulness of approval.
Montgomeryshire Assembly Member Russell George has now said that the hearing will be taking place later this month.
Writing on his website Mr George said: "An application for judicial review was submitted to the High Court in July 2024. The application challenged the lawfulness of the JCC’s decision to adopt recommendations that would lead to changes in the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), including the permanent closure of Air Ambulance bases in Welshpool and Caernarfon.
"In October (2024), the High Court granted permission for the case to proceed to a full hearing, indicating that the judge agreed the case is arguable. This was very welcome news.
"The reconfiguration of Air Ambulance Critical Care services in Wales, from the outset of the proposal to close the bases, has been a process filled with bias, misinformation and misdirection.
"Now that the High Court has granted permission for the case to proceed to a full hearing, a judge will be able to re-evaluate the decision-making process.
"I believe this will bring much-needed transparency and objectivity, examining to what extent the process led to a predetermined outcome.
"The Human Rights and Public Law team at Watkins & Gunn are acting on behalf of campaigners across mid and north Wales. The hearing is scheduled to take place later this month (January 2025).
Mr George added: "The work of the Air Ambulance in mid and north Wales is vital for providing life-saving emergency treatment and ensuring rapid response times to emergency care facilities.
"As a campaign team, we continue to believe that large parts of mid and north Wales will experience slower response times from the Wales Air Ambulance Service, and at times won’t receive a timely critical care response at all if the proposed changes proceed."
