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28Aug07

AMBULANCE SERVICE CAN'T AFFORD VEHICLES

The North West Ambulance Service has revealed that it can only afford to replace 35 of the 128 vehicles needed.

Papers from the NWAS service, which was formed in July 2006 - following the merger of four trusts which covered Stretford and Urmston – say it needs to replace 128 vehicles in 2007-08, more than a third of its 345-strong fleet. But due 'to the major capital and revenue impact' of replacing even the most urgent 50, only 35 new vehicles will be bought this year.

Conservative parliamentary spokesman for Stretford and Urmston, Mark Versallion said: “When the local ambulance service was scrapped and the regional ambulance service was formed, the Department of Health promised an improved service and greater buying power. Now, barely twelve months into the life of the new, regional service, we find that the ageing fleet cannot be replaced due to a lack of cash.

"I’m concerned that, without the investment, response times won’t improve and lives will be put at risk.” Councillor Versallion added "The new regional service is already struggling to maintain response times compared to the former trust. Five years ago, 82.4% of calls received a response within eight minutes. Now, that figure has declined to 75.9%.

“The last thing we need now is ambulances breaking down and being unavailable in an emergency due to their age or serviceability – the older the ambulances become the greater the risk of break downs and increased servicing and repair costs." added Councillor Versallion.