Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Mabon ap Gwynfor, has called for Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) to be permanently based in Caernarfon and Welshpool to safeguard emergency care for rural communities following the controversial decision to close the Wales Air Ambulance bases in both towns.
Speaking during a Senedd debate on the future of the Wales Air Ambulance service, Mabon ap Gwynfor warned that the closure of the two bases will have a devastating impact on communities across north-west and mid Wales, where geography and distance to hospitals make fast access to critical care essential.
The call comes after the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee voted to close the Caernarfon and Welshpool bases by 2026, despite strong opposition from local health boards and campaigners. Mr ap Gwynfor has been consistently critical of the decision to centralise services in northeast Wales, arguing that it disregards the needs of rural communities.
Mabon ap Gwynfor MS said:
The decision to remove the Air Ambulance from the Caernarfon and Welshpool bases is short-sighted and will leave vast rural areas exposed to slower emergency response times. Lives depend on timely intervention. If the Welsh Government and the Air Ambulance Charity insist on pressing ahead with this unpopular plan, then at the very least, Rapid Response Vehicles must be stationed in Caernarfon and Welshpool to mitigate the damage. This is not just about logistics; it’s about fairness and safety. Communities in Gwynedd, Ynys Môn and Powys deserve the same standard of emergency care as those in urban areas. The Welsh Government must ensure that mitigation measures, including RRVs, are in place before any closures happen. Rapid Response Vehicles are not a luxury - they are a lifeline for rural communities. When helicopters are taken away, the very least that people in north and mid Wales deserve is a guarantee that skilled crews can still reach them quickly in an emergency.
Powys County Councillor Elwyn Vaughan added:
Previous meetings of the Joint Health Boards have been clear in the need for a network of new RRV's throughout the area to reflect the immense concerns and vacuum in services in light of the closure of Welshpool and Caernarfon Wales Air Ambulance bases. It is imperative now that they deliver on their promises and ensure our communities have the services they deserve. Without this, we are condemning patients to longer waits and putting lives at risk.