Shrewsbury ambulance hub will be at business centre site
The location of a new £1.2 million ambulance station for Shrewsbury was today revealed, as part of the NHS Trust's regional cost-cutting plans.
West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust has announced plans to transform Abella Business Centre, off Longden Road in Shrewsbury, into a purpose-built ambulance hub.
The Mercian Close building is close to the Nuffield Hospital.
Ambulance chiefs signed a 15-year lease on the disused warehouse and a plans have been submitted to Shropshire Council which will eventually see it house up to 100 staff.
It is part of the trust's regional £9.8m 'Make Ready' proposals which have already seen a second county ambulance hub created in Donnington, Telford.
About £510,000 will be pumped into developing the site as well as almost £700,000 to lease the building. The town's existing station in Abbey Foregate will be closed and sold off.
WMAS expects to generate about £1.13m savings by selling stations in Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Craven Arms and Whitchurch, in addition to £2m in 'staff efficiency' savings.
A number of community ambulance stations and paramedic services will replace the district stations and three will be based in Shrewsbury, as well as the hub.
Barry McKinnon, area manager for WMAS in Shropshire, said: "The project is intended to make significant improvements in terms of savings and a number of other areas such as equipment and vehicle management."
