Wales Air Ambulance

Owing to its widely scattered population and diverse landscape, many in Wales live in isolated locations far from an accident and emergency service. Also, the ever increasing problem of traffic congestion and collisions in more urban areas denotes delayed response times for land ambulances. For these reasons, there is a recognised need for three helicopters on active duty 365 days a year.
It is widely believed that a patient’s chances of survival and early recovery are increased if they receive the right care within the first hour, otherwise known as the Golden Hour. The quick response times and the expert medical care provided by the Wales Air Ambulance crews across Wales ensure that this Golden Hour is achieved every time.

There are three helimed crews based in the North (Caernarfon), Mid (Welshpool) and South (Swansea) of Wales. Each crew has of one pilot and two advanced life support paramedics who are trained in the latest techniques in pre hospital emergency care ensure the patient receives the most effective treatment.

Each helicopter can be launched within 3 minutes of receiving an emergency call. From the three airbases, a helicopter can be anywhere in Wales within just 20 minutes.