EMRTS Service Review 22 December 2023 Update

The NHS Wales Emergency Ambulance Services Committee has published the following update on the development of the NHS Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS Cymru) and Wales Air Ambulance Charity:

Dear key stakeholder,

I promised I would update you following the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee (EASC) meeting on 21 December 2023.

At the meeting, Committee Members discussed the letter I received from Alyson Thomas, Chief Executive of Llais, recommending that the EMRTS Service Review provides a further opportunity for public and stakeholder comment.

Llais is the independent statutory body, set up by the Welsh Government to give the people of Wales much more say in the planning and delivery of their health and social care services – locally, regionally and nationally. 

The Committee agreed to go ahead with the original plan, but to augment it by undertaking a final Phase 3 giving the public and stakeholders a final chance to comment on the shortlisted options.

This Phase 3 would build on the previous two phases that have been undertaken this year.

I advised Llais of this plan, and they were supportive of our next steps and I am writing to Llais formally confirming EASC’s decision.  

I have emphasised throughout the engagement to date that it is important to undertake this Review robustly, and whilst this delay may be disappointing to a degree, I believe that it is testament to the integrity of the engagement that has brought the work to this point. 

I will provide an update in the New Year that will include more details about how Phase 3 will be delivered.

Thank you for your forbearance and I hope that you will participate in Phase 3 on the shortlisted options in February 2024

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your contributions on this matter throughout 2023, and to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thank you

Best regards

Stephen Harrhy

Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner

See more here: 

https://pthb.nhs.wales/air-ambulance

28/12/23