ASHBOURNE’S ambulance station could be replaced with a “community post” as part of a centralisation plan which is currently being discussed by 999 bosses.
The station, in Park Road, would be one of 66 East Midlands Ambulance Service bases.
These could be replaced with 13 hightech ‘hubs’ and Ashbourne’s nearest proposed hubs would be in either Derby or Chesterfield.
Rather than start shifts from the ambulance stations, crews would start their shifts from the hubs and head for the Community Ambulance Posts — which are proposed to be venues shared with other emergency services.
The service has moved to play down fears that the changes could lead to lengthened response times and insist the plans, which are currently subject to a consultation period, will ‘improve efficiency’ across the region.
However, opponents of the EMAS proposals say the closure of stations and having drivers start their shifts in city bases would put people living in rural areas at risk, and lead to non-local crews covering much larger areas.
Full information on the proposals can be seen by visiting www.emas.nhs.uk/ get-involved/being-the-bestconsultation.
The public consultation period ends on Monday, December 17.
