MP backs campaigners to save North Powys Air Ambulance base

The new MP representing the Welshpool area has come out fighting and says he is right behind campaigners trying to keep our Air Ambulance base open.

Labour’s Steve Witherden was elected Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP in the summer, and has also been elected as a member to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Air Ambulances at Westminster.

This could be a key appointment, and comes as campaigners found out yesterday that the High Court has given the green light for the fight to be taken to a full Judicial Review.

It means a judge will go through the whole process of how health chiefs arrived at the decision to close Welshpool and Caernarfon bases in favour of a new base in the north east of Wales.

The news was warmly welcomed with Mr Witherden who said this morning: “Living in a rural area should not preclude you from access to timely, lifesaving emergency care. I welcome the news that the High Court will hear the case against closing the Welshpool Air Ambulance base.

“The attempt to close it is regrettably just one episode in a long history of Mid Wales losing access to healthcare. At a time when there are proposals to downgrade Llanidloes Hospital being put forward, the Judicial Review is a step firmly in the right direction.

“Campaigners have long argued that the decision-making process was deeply flawed. Whatever the outcome, this hearing will shine light onto how the decision was made and will start in rebuilding trust in the service.

“I congratulate the campaigners on securing the review. Having met with the campaigners in Welshpool recently and being elected an officer of the All-arty Parliamentary Group on Air Ambulances, I am looking forward to continuing working with all those opposed to the closure.”