Keeping you informed: Next steps on rural ambulance response work following Joint Commissioning Committee meeting

This work is related, but separate to, to the earlier JCC decision to consolidate the Air Ambulance base locations. That work is continuing. The JCC also reconfirmed at this week’s meeting that no bases will close while the engagement and development of the new improvement proposal are underway. 

When the original decision was made, an additional recommendation was included to explore enhanced response options, such as rapid response vehicles, to help address concerns raised by rural communities. These concerns focused on whether people would continue to have access to emergency care at the right times and in the right places. 

At this week’s meeting, the JCC agreed to move forward engagement plans with rural communities to develop a new rural ambulance improvement proposal.  

Given the time that has passed it will be important for the JCC to revisit communities’ views to fully understand whether their concerns remain the same or have changed. This will help ensure the new proposal tackles the real issues people are raising and supports safe, fair access to emergency care. Rural communities must not feel that their health and care services are being slowly eroded or that they are being left with a two-tier service. 

At the JCC meeting, Llais emphasised the need for open and accessible engagement, with opportunities for people to take part both face-to-face and online, so that everyone has a fair chance to contribute. We advised that the engagement period should run for a full 12 weeks. 

As this work moves forward, we will be encouraging the JCC to shape the next stage around the People’s Principles, the things people across Wales told us matter most, and importantly in this work: access that works for everyone, timely care, and being listened to and treated with dignity and respect. These principles reflect what people expect from their health and care services and should guide how rural services are developed. 

We will now work with the JCC as they design the engagement plans to ensure rural voices are heard clearly and meaningfully.