The strength of opinion about plans to close ambulance stations in the East Midlands has forced a delay in the final decision.
A meeting of East Midlands Ambulance Service’s (EMAS) board in Leicester today heard that petitions containing almost 8,000 more signatures than the 95,150 officially logged had been handed into the service.
After union reps and members of the public had criticised the amount of consideration their views had been given, EMAS chief executive, Phil Milligan, revealed the trust had already decided to postpone the meeting in public when the final decision will be taken.
It was due to be held on January 28 and will now be on March 25.
Mr Milligan said the trust was now looking at ‘additional options’ as a result of the views aired during the consultation.
Gary Austin, a non-executive director, who chaired the meeting said: “This is an opportunity for more discussion with the unions and when it comes back it will have been worked through.”
He added he “would be amazed” if the proposed model of 13 hub ambulance stations across the region, surrounded by strategically-placed standby points, was still the plan when by March when the scheme has been reviewed.
The hub station covering the southern part of Northamptonshire seems likely to be in Swan Valley, with the county’s only other hub in Kettering.
EMAS says the changes would allow paramedics to have better facilities closer to where most medical 999 calls happen.
However, campaigners and some staff feel the system will draw crews into operating almost exclusively in urban areas.
They feel that, because ambulances will start the shift at urban hubs and are often at hospitals when they become available, they are likely to get called to jobs before they reach their standby points, therefore never covering rural areas as planned.
Medical director, James Grey, told the meeting EMAS was trying to ensure a correct balance between rural and urban coverage and would look at protecting vehicles from calls until they got to the standby point.
Mr Gray said: “It is a very real concern and we hear it loud and clear. Can we do it? We’ve got to find a way.”
 |  |