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BBC News
4 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Wales Air Ambulance miss 550 patients amid rural location row
Hundreds of patients were missed by the Wales Air Ambulance over the past two years because resources were in the wrong place at the wrong time, the charity has executive Sue Barnes said the poor road network around two bases in Welshpool, Powys, and Caernarfon, Gwynedd, along with a lack of overnight coverage, meant resources were under-utilised and must be merged on a new said 551 patients treated by the ambulance service in the two years could not get an additional air ambulance to merge the two bases have met stiff opposition from campaigners who said the strength of feeling had only deepened, despite their failed legal challenge to stop it. The Wales Air Ambulance has another two bases - in Dafen, Carmarthenshire, and base has a helicopter and car but only Cardiff is operational 24 hours a day, the others run 07:00-19:00 or 08:00-20:00. Ms Barnes said a 2020 audit revealed "we were missing a significant number of patients" in mid and north Wales, mostly in the evenings and 2022-2024, of the 632 people who met the criteria for an air ambulance, the charity only saw compared to 983 in south showed there were 360 shifts between January 2023 and December 2024 where no patients were seen by crews in Welshpool and Caernarfon, compared to 32 in Cardiff and Barnes said "far and away the biggest driver of that disparity" was the staffing hours, but poor road networks around bases was also a factor."Now, that's not good enough... You can see why we felt that the inequity in the service was something that we needed to deal with," she added. Ms Barnes said using the helicopter was the default choice in rural areas, but "increasingly we see our aircraft dragged in" to more urban areas in north-east Wales that were "very well-suited to a road response".Plans to have helicopters and cars based along the A55 from 2026 would allow them to reserve aircraft for more rural emergencies, she Benyon from Welshpool, who has been heavily involved in a campaign to save the base, said he believed Wales Air Ambulance were "just moving the unmet need from one area to another".With no A&E nearby, he said the strength of support in the area was due to "the fact that we need a pre-hospital care system on hand, a few minutes away". Some fundraisers previously suggested they would pull their support if the Welshpool site was Benyon said it was down to people to "follow their moral conscience" but he felt many people may be less willing to support it if the local base closed. The charity argues that focusing on response times and the perception that it replaces a hospital fundamentally misunderstood its role."We're not a first responder role," said Ms Barnes. "In virtually every instance we attend, the ambulance service will get there before us."She also said it was not a given that the air ambulance would even have come from the nearest base and the emphasis now was on treating people at the scene."The overwhelming element is having access to the crew and the right skills, not the minutes and seconds that I think people sometimes think that matters." Derwyn Jones has been a critical care practitioner for six years, mainly based at Caernarfon until his recent move to south Wales."If I'm bluntly honest it's a lot busier in south Wales and I feel within this role we need to practise our skillset to maintain competence," he described the role as "a bit of a jack of all trades" covering aspects of A&E work, intensive care and anaesthetic departments, all by the side of the of his role includes shifts in the 999 control centre to pick out calls eligible for the emergency medical retrieval and transfer service (EMRTS), the specialist crew onboard the air ambulance aircraft and cars."It's really opened my eyes in the last few months, how much we are actually missing in the mid and north," he said. Treatment has also changed, meaning response times are "not so much of an issue" with paramedics providing "a first wave of care," followed by critical care practitioners are highly-trained consultants who cover the shifts on a rota basis in addition to their NHS hospital roles, each of them a specialist in "pre-hospital emergency medicine".Mr Jones said since the EMRTS team joined the air ambulance service in 2015, "we've reduced mortality and morbidity from blunt trauma by 37%".Teams carry general anaesthetic and can even do open heart surgery, but ensuring the patient is taken to the most appropriate hospital is another vital the past, patients would be taken to a nearby hospital and have a CT scan before it was known if they needed to be moved to a major trauma Jones said that could take up to six hours, whereas now "if we do take that 20 minutes longer to get to scene, they are still within our major trauma centre within an hour and a half - with the addition of having critical care on the roadside and in flight or in the car". In the past, patients would be taken to a nearby hospital and have a CT scan before it was known if they needed to be moved to a major trauma Jones said that could take up to six hours, whereas now "if we do take that 20 minutes longer to get to scene, they are still within our major trauma centre within an hour and a half - with the addition of having critical care on the roadside and in flight or in the car".About 13 calls a day - 1% of the total calls - to the Welsh Ambulance Service are eligible for this specialist July 2021 Laura Davies' husband Arwel and seven-year-old daughter Sofia were among them when they were involved in a crash not far from their home in Llanwrda, ambulances from Cardiff and Welshpool were sent, along with a road crew from Dafen, but Arwel died at the asked if her husband would have been saved if he had made it to hospital and, in talks with the after-care team, she said she was able to understand the treatment he got at the scene "was the same as any hospital could have delivered".She added: "It was a huge comfort, it does help process the loss and certainly helps answer lots of questions I had."She said the empathy of the "real life superheroes" was part of the reason she got involved as a charity medical staff are supplied by NHS Wales, funding for everything else is done by the Wales Air Ambulance charity."The care that was extended to myself and my daughter when we were transported to the Heath [hospital in Cardiff] was incredible."I was overwhelmed, I was terrified and they literally just held my hand through the process."
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Powys minor injury units decision to be made later this year
Temporary changes to a county's community hospitals have been "positive" for cost-cutting aims, a health board has been told, as a decision on whether they will remain in place controversial measures at Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) - which included reducing the opening hours of two minor injury units - came into force late last Wednesday, health board members unanimously agreed to fold the verdict on whether or not to keep the changes into the health board's wider Better Together transformation programme - meaning a permanent decision will be taken later this in a report, executive medical director Dr Kate Wright recommended the changes remain in place. In December 2024 opening times at the minor injury unit in Brecon were reduced from being open for 24 hours to 12 hours, from 08:00 until 20:00, while the same opening hours were brought in at Llandrindod Wells site, which was previously open from 07:00 until midnight."Workforce utilisation has improved, and expenditure has reduced", while there has been "no use of agency staff and a reduction of using bank staff," said Dr Wright."In Brecon the cost per patient has reduced from £69 to £51 and in Llandrindod from £63 to £54."Dr Wright said the length of patient stay had also reduced by 23% on the Ready To Go Home units, and 7% on the rehabilitation units, compared to the same period in 2023/ added that "no increased attendances to primary care or emergency departments out of county" had been noted as a result of the health board's chairman, Dr Carl Cooper, said he wanted to assure people that postponing the decision on the long-term changes "isn't kicking the can down the road", adding it "didn't make sense" to launch a consultation so close to the Better Together initiative."Decisions will be made soon as part of that programme," he changes, which were made as part of steps taken to address a £23m budget deficit last year, were originally approved by the board last summer, with local people told they were necessary to maintain a quality service and would last a minimum of six the move received significant backlash, leading to a six-week board then met in October and approved the plans for a second time.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Meteor shower to dazzle over county this week
A DAZZLING display of meteors will be visible in Herefordshire this week. Known as the Delta Aquariid meteor shower, it will begin on Wednesday, July 30, and it is expected that up to 25 meteors an hour could be visible. So, where are the best Herefordshire locations to view the meteors? The best conditions needed are a clear view, minimal light pollution, safety, and good planning – so hopefully the weather is good with no thick clouds! Here are a few spots you could head to: Lugg Meadows and Bartestree Just outside Hereford, the village hall in Bartestree is a good observation site for stargazing, especially eclipses, meaning it should be perfect for capturing meteors. The Herefordshire Astronomical Society has the location as one of its observing sites. Lugg Meadow is also a great place to view the eclipse because it is a large and open space. Other locations the society lists are Fownhope Recreation Field and the National Trust property Berrington Hall near Leominster. Symonds Yat Rock and Little Doward Woods The Wye Valley as a national landscape is beautiful with its scenic views, so why not a great place for eclipse viewing? Sweeping views from Symonds Yat Rock make it ideal and just along the Wye crossing, Biblins Bridge, is Little Doward Woods. The Iron Age fort is an open space, but do be prepared for a walk. Hay Bluff and Black Mountain Right on the border with Powys, at 703.6 metres high, again this does require good fitness to climb to the trig point. Alternatively, just inside the Welsh border, the lane below Hay Bluff (or on top of the summit) is also ideal as a wild, open Brecon Beacons space. Arthur's Stone Arthur's Stone is a great lookout spot to the Black Mountains in the Golden Valley. For over 5,000 years, the stone has seen many solar eclipses, so why not some meteors! Parking in the layby adjacent to the stone is the best place to get to the ancient monument. Garway Hill A 360-degree view into Wales, Garway Hill has plenty of paths, lanes, and bridleways to get to the top. It is a wild, open hill with grazing ponies, the best countryside to view the meteors. Hergest Ridge One of the best sections of the Offa's Dyke Path, Hergest Ridge above Kington is an ancient earthwork and suggested maps have even suggested an old 'race course'. The Monkey Puzzle Trees at the top are an outlier for a spot which is iconic for a walk. It's another wild and open spot to view the skies above you. Croft Ambrey Farm and forestry tracks leading away from the National Trust property Croft Castle, will give you the chance to summit Croft Ambrey Fort. Excavations found the fort to be in use from the 6th century BC up to AD 48. The location, set upon the Mortimer Trail, is a great walk to the top at around 300 metres above sea level. Around a mile to the top, open views across the Marches and into the Shropshire Hills make this a good place for the list.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Green Man festival project site Gilestone Farm loses £500,000 in value
A farm originally bought by the Welsh government using taxpayers' money for an ill-fated festival project has lost £500,000 in Farm in Powys was originally bought for £4.75m but plans to help Green Man festival's owners were abandoned when ospreys started nesting there.A Senedd committee report has raised "serious concerns" over how the site was acquired, and demanded a Welsh government said it would "continue to explore potential opportunities for its future use". Then-economy minister Vaughan Gething said the government was "delighted" in early 2024 by the arrival of two nesting ospreys at Gilestone the discovery brought to an end to a scheme which could have seen the businesswoman behind Green Man expand to a new site. Gething, who later had a short stint as first minister during the same year, denied wasting money. Under the proposals the main music and arts festival would have remained at Crickhowell, but a company set up by Green Man's director Fiona Stewart wanted to use the farm for other politicians had criticised the purchase of the farm - with officials entering negotiations to lease it to Ms Stewart - without an initial business the discovery of the ospreys, a 750m (2,460ft) restricted zone was advised around the nest itself, which can be viewed live on the audit report previously found that using up unspent money by the end of financial year was the "most significant" factor in why the site was property is currently leased to a farm on "commercial terms". 'Not robust' In a critical report, the Senedd's public accounts and administration committee said the decision was taken with a "lack of thorough due diligence".Plans were "not sufficiently robust and had not been communicated effectively to the community", it said. It added a failure to keep an adequate record of meetings with Green Man officials meant the Senedd was "unable to fully scrutinise and evaluate decisions taken by the Welsh government".Decision-makers in the Welsh government were also not provided information about the purchase in a "timely manner", the report committee said the "haste" that the government bought the site in may have also inhibited its ability to identify risks around the presence of wildlife "that would affect its proposals for the site, and potentially, its value"."This is particularly notable as the site has now been valued at £3.75m, meaning that the Welsh government's asset has lost half a million pounds in value," the report chairman Mark Isherwood said: "The arrival of the ospreys on the site was unexpected and it's acknowledged that the Welsh government has responded positively to this development to preserve their habitat, albeit there was evidence of other protected species being present at the site at the time of purchase. "However, the future of the site now appears to be very uncertain, with the most recent valuation showing that the asset has decreased in value by £0.5m compared to the purchase price. This is highly regrettable." The committee called for a full review of the purchase process and for the Welsh government's chief civil servant, permanent secretary Andrew Goodall, to "reflect on the significant loss in value to the land and whether this could have been mitigated".A Welsh government spokesman said: "Gilestone remains one of the Welsh government's property assets and is being managed on our behalf as a working farm. "We continue to explore potential opportunities for its future use, in keeping with our commitment to seek a sustainable outcome that helps local communities thrive."We will read the committee's report with interest and respond in due course."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Serious concerns raised over how Welsh Government bought £4.25m farm
Serious concerns have been raised about how the Welsh Government bought a piece of land which has dropped in value by half a million pounds. The government bought Gilestone Farm in Powys in 2022 as part of a deal with Green Man Festival for it to be a base for its operations. However, in 2023 protected species - a pair of ospreys - were seen on the land. A 750-metre restriction zone around their nest was set up to protect the birds, who have since returned and laid an egg, with an admission made that 'the presence of the ospreys on the site inevitably brings some uncertainty." The land was purchased in 2022 for £4.25m, and earlier this year the Welsh Government confirmed that its valuation had dropped to £3.75m. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. READ MORE: I abandoned my life in London for Wales. I thought I was living the dream but was totally burnt-out READ MORE: Welsh pub can't find a new landlord so it's being turned into flats A 2023 Audit Wales review looking at the farm purchase found ministers acted with "avoidable haste" as an underspend fuelled a rush to make a decision on the £4.25m purchase before the financial year's end. Now, the Senedd's Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee has published a report which claims the purchase of Gilestone Farm was 'rushed due to end-of-year budget pressures'. The report, published on Monday, July 28, says lessons must be learned from the purchase and that there is a need for 'urgent improvements and better governance for acquisition practices'. Significant failings have been identified with regards to the handling of the acquisition, raising broader concerns about governance, due diligence, and community engagement. 'The committee is deeply concerned by the Welsh Government's handling of the purchase of Gilestone Farm,' said Mark Isherwood MS, the committee's chair. 'While we recognise the importance of acting swiftly to support the creative sector, this decision was taken with avoidable haste and without the thorough due diligence that the public rightly expects. It raises serious questions about internal processes and the robustness of governance structures. 'Furthermore, the Welsh Government must do more to ensure that communities are not only consulted but genuinely listened to. Engagement must be meaningful, inclusive, and consistent. 'The significant loss in the value of the property is particularly notable in the current financial climate, and we expect the Welsh Government to clarify its future intentions for the site and to set out how it will mitigate the financial loss to the public purse. 'To ensure lessons are learned, the committee will want to carry out further work looking at the Welsh Government's approach to property investments, to assess whether current processes are sufficiently rigorous and fit for purpose.' The Welsh Government was asked to comment by WalesOnline on the issues raised above. It said it will respond fully after reading the committee's report. A spokeswoman said: 'Gilestone Farm was acquired in 2022, following proper processes and in keeping with market values at the time, in order to support the growth of the creative sector in Wales and a stronger mid Wales economy. 'We were delighted to learn in August 2023 of the arrival of the pair of mating ospreys, which returned in 2024, and again this year. Their first egg hatched in early June 2025. This is believed to be a first for the Usk Valley in at least 250 years and marks an important milestone in the protection of this important species. 'The arrival of the ospreys necessarily impacted on the planned use of the farm, and the original project had to be stopped. Gilestone remains one of the Welsh Government's property assets, and is being managed on our behalf as a working farm. We continue to explore potential opportunities for its future use, in keeping with our commitment to seek a sustainable outcome that helps local communities thrive. 'We will read the Committee's report with interest, and respond in due course.'
