Concerns in Wem over Shropshire ambulance hub plan

Civic leaders in Wem will write to health bosses detailing concerns over controversial plans to shake-up services in the county.

At last night's Wem Town Council meeting ,members agreed with mayor Councillor Edward Towers that plans could see patients lose out on ambulance cover.

Councillor Towers detailed his concerns ahead of plans to scale back services offered from Whitchurch ambulance station.

The site in Whitchurch is due to become a joint police and ambulance station from April, which has raised fears it will offer a more limited service once the changes take effect.

Two ambulance 'hubs' will be created in Shrewsbury and Telford, where ambulances will be cleaned, repaired and restocked ready for deployment to stations across the county from where they will respond to calls.

But health bosses claim ambulance cover would actually be increased in the area and that changes were essential to cut costs.

Councillor Towers said: "The plans have been accelerated and the Whitchurch ambulance station has been sold to the police and the staff will transfer to Shrewsbury as from April 1, ahead of original planning and before the site for the hub in the Shrewsbury area has been bought.

"Why this reluctance to accept advice and the tremendous rush? There are some good parts to these plans but some very negative aspects to. There will be less cover in our larger north Shropshire towns of Oswestry, Whitchurch and Market Drayton as ambulances are replaced by cars and ambulance stations close/sold.

"Keeping an ambulance in Whitchurch, Oswestry and Market Drayton would improve patient care.

"When a 999 call comes in the ambulance would respond and within minutes would be on the way to hospital.

"An ambulance from the hub could then be sent to cover that area and the ambulance that has taken the patient now becomes Shrewsbury/Telford cover."