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ISSUE 09 25 JULY 2012
STRANGERS
Time
MIND & BODY
BLACKOUT
Pages 17, 18 and 19
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Stan Heggs Story - being politically correct cannot be correct - The Third Man Page 20
‘lives at risk’ Alarm bells ringing over ambulance station closure plans RADICAL plans to close almost every ambulance station in Northamptonshire could put patients’ lives at risk, angry union leaders claim – despite service chiefs’ assurances response times will be quicker. A major campaign is now being launched to fight the plans, which could see stations in Corby, Wellingborough and Rushden axed. Kettering station could remain open under the blueprint. East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) bosses say the proposals to replace stations with standby points in towns will speed up response times to 999 calls. But Unison regional organiser Corall Jenkins, who represents ambulance staff, told Extra: “These plans are poten-
tially putting lives at risk.” She said: “999 calls will be attended by a hot response car. But if the patient has, say suffered a heart attack, they will need a crewed ambulance response. “That then has to be called for which will lead to another period of waiting. It is lengthening the time of getting a crewed ambulance to the incident, though that doesn’t show up in the official figures.” She added: “Our members have said it is unworkable. They are shocked, they expected something but what EMAS has put on the table is quite dire.” She also called on communities across Northamptonshire to join in fighting the plans. Ambulance chiefs say there will be a major public consultation exercise before any changes are
made. It is likely to start in September. The estimated £29million that will be saved if the plan goes ahead will be invested in the 131 “tactical deployment points”, stand-by points and 13 hubs where ambulances will be maintained. An EMAS spokesman said the proposed changes would “improve performance times” which have been a matter of public concern and added: “Our stations for the vast majority of time just stand empty. Crews go there, park their cars, get into the ambulance and spend all day on the road.” He said the widespread consultation on the proposals would involve staff and added: “We will go out into the community to speak to people, EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Bosses and unions are at odds over the result of major ambulance there will be public meetings.” service reorganisation plans
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