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Wiltshire MPs' fury at ambulance threat
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| The Wiltshire air ambulance service is under threat |
MPs have backed the Gazette's campaign to keep the Wiltshire Air Ambulance in the county.
Amid growing concern that ambulance bosses want to ditch the Devizes-based helicopter and replace it with one based at Filton, near Bristol, we urge readers to add their name to our petition and display a campaign poster.
Devizes MP Michael Ancram and North Wiltshire MP James Gray have given their backing to the fight.
Mr Ancram said: "I have been a strong supporter of the Wiltshire Air Ambul-ance Appeal for a long time and have seen the enormously important work it does because of its swift response times. Axing the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and providing cover from Filton would be absolutely outrageous.
"In my view it would be an insult to all those people in Wiltshire who, over the years, have raised so much money to keep the air ambulance going."
Mr Gray, who was taken to Truro Hospital by the Cornwall Air Ambulance after falling down a cliff and rupturing his cruciate knee ligament, said: "A county like Wiltshire, which is very large and rural and has two major roads going through it - the M4 and A303 - badly needs its own air ambulance.
"If it were to become regionalised in any way, based at Filton or anywhere else, there would be constant demands on it from elsewhere and we wouldn't have our own air ambulance in Wiltshire."
Former Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal administrator Lesley Duncan has slammed the possible move to Bristol. She said: "This will be a catastrophe - call out times will be longer, there will be no more night flights and the people in Wiltshire will feel less inclined to support it.
"Money raised by people in Wiltshire should be spent on something that will benefit people in Wiltshire. his is an awful idea and one that has not been thought out.
"Everyone I have spoken to is completely behind the appeal to keep the service in Wiltshire and it certainly won't go without a fight. This idea has not come from someone who really cares about the Wiltshire Air Ambulance or any of its staff."
She was at the Castle Combe Steam Rally at the weekend collecting names on our petition. Within hours more than 1,000 signed their names at the event, which raises money for the air ambulance.
She said: " Nothing has been seriously thought about and it seems like someone has just taken a pin and put it in a map. The air ambulance has always been a service close to the hearts of people in Wiltshire and if this is taken away it will be heartbreaking."
8:50am Thursday 15th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: k westbury, westbury on 1:28pm Thu 15 May 08
taking all of Wiltshire peoples donations with it!!!!!
taking all of Wiltshire peoples donations with it!!!!!
Posted by: k westbury, westbury on 1:29pm Thu 15 May 08
taking all of Wiltshire peoples donations with it!!!!!
taking all of Wiltshire peoples donations with it!!!!!
Posted by: mav, devizes on 3:17pm Thu 15 May 08
This money belongs to the public of Wiltshire. Who do the bosses of the Great Western Ambulance Service think they are. They have ousted the two members of the public on the board and have taken it upon themselves to make all the decisions. They have shown they cant even run the ambulance service. Write in to them and complain. Mr Lynch, Karl Henderson and Alan Veasey of the great western ambulance service seem to be the ones making the decisions. Official letters of complaint to Jenner House, Malmesbury Road, Chippenham, against these three will go a long way. They seem to be acting in a totally dishonest way. Lets get the appeal back into public hands where it belongs.
This money belongs to the public of Wiltshire. Who do the bosses of the Great Western Ambulance Service think they are. They have ousted the two members of the public on the board and have taken it upon themselves to make all the decisions. They have shown they cant even run the ambulance service. Write in to them and complain. Mr Lynch, Karl Henderson and Alan Veasey of the great western ambulance service seem to be the ones making the decisions. Official letters of complaint to Jenner House, Malmesbury Road, Chippenham, against these three will go a long way. They seem to be acting in a totally dishonest way. Lets get the appeal back into public hands where it belongs.
Posted by: George, Devizes on 9:29am Sat 17 May 08
Well said Mav, kick the lot out and go independent. I sure with the help of the Charities Commission this is possible.
GWAS management have lost all credibility in my eyes, you have just to look at the mess the ambulance service is in. And they think they can run a charity as well.......God help us!!
Well said Mav, kick the lot out and go independent. I sure with the help of the Charities Commission this is possible.
GWAS management have lost all credibility in my eyes, you have just to look at the mess the ambulance service is in. And they think they can run a charity as well.......God help us!!
Posted by: Pete, Wiltshire on 11:38am Sat 17 May 08
It seems to me after several articles in the Gazette that the Great Western Ambulance management can’t even run an Ambulance service properly. Now to our HORROR we find out they are running our well loved Air Ambulance and are trying to wreck it.
It’s time for the trust board to let the appeal go. Let our vital Air Ambulance become independent and leave well alone something you quite clearly don’t appreciate.
The people of Wilts have paid for this service and it should remain in Wilts to continue to fly 19 hours a day for only £350’000 a year.
It seems to me after several articles in the Gazette that the Great Western Ambulance management can’t even run an Ambulance service properly. Now to our HORROR we find out they are running our well loved Air Ambulance and are trying to wreck it.
It’s time for the trust board to let the appeal go. Let our vital Air Ambulance become independent and leave well alone something you quite clearly don’t appreciate.
The people of Wilts have paid for this service and it should remain in Wilts to continue to fly 19 hours a day for only £350’000 a year.
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