A petition to save one of the Rapid Response Units being axed in town has been handed over to the Senedd reports Des Pugh.

Lorraine Allman and Terry Kirton were “delighted” to hand over the signed petitions to Save the Monmouth Rapid Response Vehicle to Peter Fox MS on behalf of the Senedd Petitions Committee in Cardiff.

The Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust are considering cutting the Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) based at Monmouth ambulance station, leaving just one ambulance for the area. It is claimed this will result in an increase in response times. The plans, which the Welsh Ambulance service says is aimed at better matching capacity to demand, would result in two rapid response vehicles being removed from Chepstow and Monmouth ambulance stations.

RRVs were introduced because they can reach critical, isolated, sick, and injured patients quickly, easing pain, suffering, and saving lives. Petitioners claim this hasn’t changed, and with an increasing population in the area, the town needs more resources not less.

3,311 signatures were collected over recent weeks, and the petition will now be considered at the Petitions Committee meeting on May 23.

“We will be providing our response to the letter received by them from the Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan MS, and look forward to watching the discussion and hearing the outcome on the day” said Lorriane.

Following the presentation of the petitions at the Senedd, the pair travelled to meet Jason Killens, CEO of Wales Ambulance NHS Trust. Also present at the meeting was local GP Rachel Thomas-Hewartson.

During the meeting, the petitioners presented clear and specific data about Monmouthshire from a range of sources including Welsh Ambulance NHS Trust, (WAST), Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), Quality and Outcome Framework (QOF), and Freedom of Information requests.

They were grateful that Mr Killens was able to listen and engage with them through the full presentation, and has further agreed to both reflect on and revisit the data that was presented in the context of the information that has been used to inform the modelling to determine future services and resourcing.

“In particular, we brought his attention to data from QOF for Monmouthshire regarding detailed demographics on specific illnesses such as Atrial Fibrillation, Cancer, and Dementia, which he confirmed had not been included in the original data for modelling purposes” said Lorraine.

Mr Killens has invited both Lorraine Allman and Terry Kirton to visit the Ambulance Control Centre to see first hand how emergency calls are dispatche.

In the meantime, they have been assured that a full written response to all their questions will be forthcoming once the data presented today has been reviewed by him.

Speaking to the Beacon after the event, petition organisers Lorraine Allman and Terry Kirton of the Save the Monmouth RRV campaign siad: “As you’ll see, it’s small steps, but we are pleased it was a very constructive meeting, and crucially that he has agreed to reflect on and review the data we presented today, in particular the QOF data which had not been included in any of the modelling work”.