Speak up about ambulances

Their consultation, Being The Best, launched on Monday and runs until 17th December 2012.

The 16 page document suggests that most of EMAS ambulance stations are now either too old or not in the right locations to respond to calls.

Instead, 131 community ambulance posts, standby points and hubs would be created.

Hubs are described as large ‘super stations’ where ambulance crews will start their shifts, collect fully equipped vehicles and provide a base for clinical and support staff.

The nearest hub to Worksop and Retford would be in Mansfield.

Community ambulance posts would be spread across the wider area in buildings already occupied by police, fire and health services.

Here, ambulance crews would be ready to respond to calls and can also use the facilities.

Standby points would also be used across the district for crews to wait for calls.

EMAS said the proposals are designed to give patients the ‘best service possible’ by improving response times and ensuring the right skilled staff attend calls.

“The proposals focus on the way we deliver our services from stations and standby points,” said EMAS chief executive Phil Milligan.

“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.”

The Being The Best consultation document are available online at www.emas.nhs.uk

Or email [email protected] or call 0800 917 9911 to ask for a copy. Also look out for dates of public meetings coming soon.