The North Wales Emergency Doctor Service (NWEDS), a team of volunteer immediate care clinicians supporting emergency services across the region, is proud to announce the launch of a new critical care car, due to become operational in June 2026.

This latest addition was made possible through generous funding from the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal – the only charity in Britain dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads and enhancing emergency care. The £25,000 donation was awarded via the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS), which has received £250,000 annually from the HELP Appeal since 2019.

The vehicle will significantly enhance NWEDS’ ability to deliver advanced pre-hospital emergency care to patients experiencing serious illness or injury throughout North Wales. Equipped with emergency warning equipment and essential life-saving medical supplies, the vehicle will enable responders to provide critical interventions at the scene of emergencies, often before patients reach hospital.

A dedicated response vehicle will allow NWEDS practitioners to reach patients more quickly, transport specialist life-saving equipment, and work more effectively alongside frontline ambulance crews and partner emergency services. Strengthening this response capability directly supports the organisation’s mission to provide early specialist intervention for people experiencing severe illness or injury, giving every patient the best possible chance of a positive outcome.

Established in 2010, NWEDS has expanded in recent years to include a wider team of volunteer doctors, paramedics, and advanced practitioners. The organisation operates under the governance of BASICS Wales and is affiliated with BASICS UK, working closely alongside the Welsh Ambulance Service and other emergency services across the region.

In addition to responding to emergencies, NWEDS is committed to advancing the practice of immediate care through high-quality training and by supporting the effectiveness of statutory and non-statutory emergency organisations throughout North Wales.

As a charity-supported organisation, NWEDS relies heavily on public donations and external support to maintain and develop its service. The addition of this new critical care car marks a significant milestone for the team and will further strengthen its ability to respond to critically ill and injured patients across North Wales when every minute matters.

The HELP Appeal has now funded over 40 critical care cars and continues to invest in vital emergency infrastructure across the country.  Most recently, it donated £1.5 million towards the construction of two new hospital helipads at Ysbyty Gwynedd – a project that will see the hospital gain one additional helipad, significantly improving emergency air access for some of the most seriously ill and injured patients in North Wales. The dual helipads will be the first of its kind in the country, allowing both HM Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter and Wales Air Ambulance to land safely without delays, preventing stacking so one aircraft does not have to wait in the air while another is on the helipad.

Dr Bryn Ellis, NWEDS Doctor and Clinical Lead, said:

“We are delighted to introduce a new critical care car to support the growing work of NWEDS across North Wales. Our volunteer clinicians are committed to delivering enhanced pre-hospital emergency care when every second counts, and this vehicle will play a vital role in helping us reach patients quickly with the specialist equipment and interventions they need. We are incredibly grateful to everyone, including the HELP Appeal, who have supported this project and helped strengthen our ability to care for people in their most critical moments.”

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, added:

“We are proud to support NWEDS with the funding of this critical care car, helping their dedicated volunteer immediate care clinicians deliver advanced, lifesaving treatment directly at the scene. Following recent donations to fund the new helipads at Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital, this donation to NWEDS ensures that patients across North Wales will receive the highest standard of emergency care and helping to improve outcomes.”