Major changes for Lincolnshire ambulance service proposed
The map, indicating the changes in the proposal. The blue dots show where the new Community Ambulance Posts and Standby points will be and green dots are proposed “Super Stations”, while the red dots depict the present ambulance stations.
In a bid to improve its service and be more cost-effective, the regional ambulance service is proposing to remove the ambulance stations in Lincolnshire.
Instead of ambulance stations, Lincolnshire will get Community Ambulance Posts, Standby Points and in some areas state-of-the art “Super Stations”.
Community Ambulance Posts will be based in police, fire, or other healthcare and partners’ existing buildings.
These will be the most typical place crews will respond to calls, in addition to making use of the various facilities at the rest points.
Standby points will be used where rest facilities do not currently exist but an ambulance point is need to respond quickly.
Meanwhile the “Super Stations” will be where crews will start their shift to collect a fully-equipped vehicle, plus be a base for clinical and support staff.
There will be 26 Community Ambulance Posts, Standby Points and Hubs in use daily in Lincolnshire with 4 proposed hubs, instead of the current 18 Ambulance Stations.
The proposed areas are where EMAS feel the ambulance crews will be able to respond to calls most effectively, based on call data, local knowledge of road networks and other information.
A public consultation, called Being the Best, has been launched in Lincolnshire for residents to have their say on proposed changes to East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS).
Phil Milligan, East Midlands Ambulance Service Chief Executive, said: “We are committed to being the best ambulance service we can be, and we know that we need to fundamentally improve the way we work to achieve this.
“These proposals have been developed with our clinical colleagues, and will ensure that we provide the best possible emergency and urgent care for all those living and working in the East Midlands.
“The proposals focus on the way we deliver our services from stations and standby points. We must ensure that we spend our limited resources in making our frontline services that best they can be, rather than on updating old buildings that are not fit for the future.
“We’re really keen to hear everyone’s thoughts and ideas on these proposals, and help us to shape our future.”
Dr James Gray, East Midlands Ambulance Service Medical Director, said: “Our current buildings are in need of major repairs and refurbishment, with an estimated cost of £13 million needed to put them right.
“Fifty years after some of them were built, some are not in the best place to allow us to respond quickly nor are they based in the right places to achieve the most effective service.
“Our emergency ambulance vehicles are our mobile emergency treatment centres. We don’t provide direct medical care at our stations.”
Have your say
As well as local action group meetings to see the proposals, EMAS will be holding consiltations in a number of Lincolnshire towns and Lincoln. These are:
October 18 – 1pm start
Memorial Hall, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 8AH
October 22 – 2pm start
Princess Royal Sports Arena, Wyberton Fen, Boston, PE2 7PB
October 24 – 6pm start
The Bentley Hotel, Newark Road, South Hykeham, Lincoln, LN6 9NH
October 29 – 2pm start
South Kesteven District Council, Chambers, St Peters Hill, NG31 6PZ
October 30 – 10am start
Ruston Sports & Social Club, Newark Road, Lincoln, LN6 8RN
The proposals are also available online.
