Ambulance station's future reviewed
The future of Newark Ambulance Station is under review as bosses look to cut drastically the number of bases.
East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) plans to have fewer stations with better facilities and lower running costs.
Newark’s 50-year-old station, on Queen’s Road, is one of 65 in the region being reviewed.
They would be replaced with a new model of ten to 14 large hubs, a number of small satellite stations, and tactical deployment points such as Portakabins or an existing community building.
A report outlining the plan, due to be finalised at the end of July, says there is a need for a new type of facility to replace “inefficient” stations that are mostly “old, functionally unsuitable, in need of investment and operationally poorly located.”
A public consultation will be held once plans have been finalised.
EMAS chief executive Mr Phil Milligan said more emergencies were responded to by ambulance crews already out on the road, which meant stations were empty most of the day.
“In light of this we are looking at having fewer ambulance stations but there will be better facilities at each so we can be sure that each ambulance is clean, well maintained and fully stocked at the beginning of each shift,” he said.
As well as an overhaul of ambulance stations, EMAS is looking at introducing a new response system and a restructure of its existing divisions and management.
It could see Nottinghamshire merging with Derbyshire to create a Northern Division covering 1,866sq miles and 1.5m people.
The division would have five hubs, with 180 staff at each. The hubs would have additional resources such as education facilities.
It is not the first time Newark Ambulance Station’s future has been under threat.
Four years ago fears were raised that ambulances from Newark could be moved to Ollerton, but EMAS denied any plans to close the base at that time.
The secretary of the Say YES to Newark Hospital campaign, Mr Paul Baggaley, said the health authorities should consider expanding the ambulance service in Newark, not reducing it.
He said that was based on an NHS report that showed a high number of deaths caused by road accidents in the district, and the fact that the area had the highest proportion of over-65s in the county.
Mr Baggaley said they were the heaviest users of emergency health.
He also said ambulance transfer times to the nearest A&E for patients in the Newark area were the worst in the region.
“The fire service made a decision to protect services at Newark because of the town’s geographical importance. It would be unusual if another emergency service made a different decision,” he said.
Newark Ambulance Station was built in 1960. Six ambulances were based there in 1993, but now there are two. Staff in fast response vehicles are also based in the town.
