Shropshire ambulance stations to be sold as part of new service structure
Two ambulance stations in Shropshire are about to move to new locations as part of West Midlands Ambulance Service’s ‘Make Ready’ plans.
The plan involves the creation of 24/7 fleet maintenance hubs where a dedicated team of Ambulance Fleet Assistants prepare, service and maintain the fleet of ambulances.
The ‘hubs’ are being created at Donnington ambulance station which has been refurbished and at a new base to be confirmed in Shrewsbury. With the exception of Donnington ambulance station, all traditional ambulance stations in county will be sold and replaced with new Community Ambulance Stations. Shrewsbury ambulance station will be replaced by a new purpose-built ‘hub’.
In Shropshire there were seven traditionally owned ambulance stations in Market Drayton, the ambulance service had shared use of the town’s fire station. Whitchuch ambulance station has already been sold to West Mercia Police and will become a joint police and ambulance station. With the exception of Donnington ambulance station, these stations owned by the ambulance service will be sold.
Shrewsbury ambulance station will be replaced by a new ‘hub’ acting also as an ambulance station and additional Community Ambulance Stations will be set up in the town to improve cover.
The other ambulance stations in the county will all be replaced with Community Ambulance stations within the same towns. Community ambulance stations will also be added to areas where there hasn’t been a station before. In total, there will be 15 sites in the county from where West Midlands Ambulance Service resources will be able to respond; two of them will be hubs, the other 13 will be Community Ambulance Stations.
Bridgnorth Ambulance Station in Innage Lane will be replaced by a Community Ambulance Station within the town’s police station in Tasley Bank. The ambulance station is up for sale with offers invited in the region of £110,000.
Tweedale ambulance station in Cuckoo Oak Green will be replaced with a new facility at Cuckoo Oak Industrial Estate. The ambulance station is up for sale with offers invited in the region of £150,000
West Midlands Ambulance Service say the new community ambulance stations will be leased at a fraction of the costs associated with the currently owned buildings. The savings made will be channelled into the frontline ambulance service instead.
The ‘Make Ready’ system is expected to be fully in place in Shropshire this autumn.
