Update on development of the NHS Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS Cymru) and Wales Air Ambulance Charity (26 January 2023)

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:

Update position as at 26 January 2023 The purpose of this briefing note is to provide a further update on the work being undertaken ahead of the formal public engagement process in relation to the Service Review of the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS Cymru) who work in partnership with the Wales Air Ambulance Charity.

EASC has agreed to explore and maximise the additional activity that could be achieved from existing bases and to explore options to reconfigure the service.

The last briefing explained that we expected to start formal engagement when the engagement materials were agreed and that the EASC Team would continue to work with experts in Health Boards and Community Health Councils to produce these.

A number of engagement materials are in development in a range of formats to ensure that they are available to all stakeholders. These describe how EMRTS works, why the EMRTS Service Review is taking place and that EASC needs your help to make sure that we are looking at the right things and that we understand what you think.

As part of the engagement process, stakeholders will be asked about which options should be developed, how these will be measured against each other and which of these are most important. This will impact on the scoring of each option.

Before they are finalised, these materials have been shared with Community Health Councils for their feedback.

Discussions will also take place to agree the approach to engagement and the timetable. There are a number of ways you will be able to share your views including face to face, online sessions and an online survey.

We still expect to start the engagement process in early February.

Thank you for your continued interest in the EMRTS Service Review.

Further information is available from the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee website.

Check our Air Ambulance Review page for all news articles and updates about the review of air ambulance services in Wales.

Published 26/01/23