Union slams 'dangerous' plans to halve fleet of fast response cars

EMAS WANTS TO PROVIDE MORE CREWED AMBULANCES INSTEAD

- By JOEL MOORE

UNION bosses say plans by East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) to halve the number of fast response cars in its fleet will “put lives at risk”.

EMAS said the move was part of wider proposals to increase the number of ambulances which can transport patients and in turn improve patient safety.

Under the plans, which remain subject to consultation, EMAS would decrease the number of its fast response vehicles from 28 to 14.

The medically equipped cars transport clinically trained staff such as paramedics to patients as quickly as possible and are often the first at the scene.