| Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service Cymru | |
| Nhs Region: | Wales |
| Budget: | £2.8 million |
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service Cymru (EMRTS Cymru) is a pre-hospital critical care service in Wales. It is partnership between Wales Air Ambulance, Welsh Government and NHS Wales.
In September 2014 the Welsh Government announced a service that would be capable of reaching around 95% of the population within 30 minutes, operational for 12 hours of the day. [1] Capital funding of almost £2million was allocated in 2014–15 to set up the service, with almost £3million a year expected from the following year to support it.[2] In November 2014, up to eight consultant doctors were to be recruited.[3]
In March 2015, the service was set to start within a few weeks using military and civilian personnel travelling in helicopters and four-wheel drive road vehicles. The service was to operate from two bases, located at Swansea in South Wales and Welshpool in Mid-Wales.[4] This was based on the Australian flying doctor model.[5]
In August 2017, the service was extended with a further crew operating from a base at Caernarfon Airport, North Wales.[6] [7]