Loss of ambulances 'could cost lives'

From the Salisbury Journal, first published Friday 6th Jan 2006.

FRESH rumours that Ringwood ambulance station will close in a cost-cutting push has been denied by health chiefs.

Reliable sources say the station, situated on the A31 trunk road, may go as part of a countrywide shake-up.

And they claim that if the station is closed as part of the NHS Ambulance Trust's radical plan to reduce Hampshire stations from 19 to just three super-stations in Winchester, Basingstoke and Southampton lives will be put at risk.

A government employee, who asked not to be named, told the Forest Journal that if Ringwood ambulance station was to close then "it could likely cost lives."

Hampshire Ambulance NHS Trust currently has to meet a category A emergency in eight minutes and a category B emergency in 19 minutes.

The employee alleges that by focussing resources in large towns and cities, a larger proportion of targets would be met and bonuses would be achieved.

"But if ambulances are placed around the three main stations, then there is no way an ambulance could reach Ringwood or Fordingbridge in eight minutes.

"There are so many incidents on the A31 and the B338 that to close Ringwood ambulance station would be a very bad move."

Hampshire Ambulance is reviewing its estate properties across the country as part of its strategic development plan.

Its proposed "hub-and-spoke" model has been ratified by board members and effectively given the green light.

The Government's Department of Health is carrying out a nationwide public consultation on the configuration of NHS Ambulance Trusts.

A Hampshire Ambulance spokeswoman said the trust is waiting for the outcome of the consultation, which is due to end on March 22.

"The Hampshire Ambulance Service vision is to still have a hub-and-spoke model, with depots situated in the main urban areas, supported by satellite stations and standby points in more rural areas," she said.

"However, due to the proposed configuration of Ambulance Services, which will be out for public consultation until March 22, Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust will wait for the outcome of the consultation and will then make an informed decision."

The government is planning to cut the number of ambulance trusts in England by two thirds from 31 to 11 but has stressed that there would be no reduction in vehicles or frontline staff.

The proposals, outlined in the Configuration of NHS Ambulance Trusts in England document, suggests that the country would be divided into the 11 areas representing the nine government office regions.

The south west and south east regions would be split in two with Hampshire falling under the south east B region.

A department of health spokesperson said under the new proposals, fewer larger trusts would mean less unnecessary bureaucracy and provide some more money to invest in services.

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