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David Mowat Highlights Warrington Ambulance Problem

David Mowat highlights Warrington Ambulance problem

The new North West Ambulance Service has revealed that it can only afford to replace 35 of the 128 vehicles needed.  Board papers from the NWAS service, which was formed in July 2006 following the merger of four trusts - including the Mersey Regional Ambulance NHS Trust, which covered Warrington, say it needs to replace 128 vehicles in 2007-08, more than a third of its 345-strong fleet. However, due 'to the major capital and revenue impact' of replacing even the most urgent 50, only 35 new vehicles will be bought this year, it says.
 
David Mowat 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 12 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 am concerned that, without the investment, response times will not improve and lives will be put at risk.
 
The new regional service is already struggling to maintain response times compared to the former trust.  Five years ago, nearly 80% of calls received a response within eight minutes. Now, that figure has declined to 72%.
 
David Mowat adds: 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”.
 
It is not enough to blame problems from the former county ambulance services, NWAS has had over a year to sort these problems out, - it is simply not good enough.  I will be writing to both the Government and NWAS to seek an explanation why after the boasts of greater spending power they now claim that they can only afford 35 of the 128 new ambulances required, added Mr Mowat.