Gainsborough MP Edward Leigh came out of an important meeting with the Chief Executive of the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) this afternoon feeling optimistic about the future of Gainsborough ambulance station.

Mr. Leigh has waged a long running campaign to save the ambulance station, which had been threatened with closure. Phil Milligan, head of EMAS, this afternoon assured him that the station in Gainsborough was likely to remain open, and even had potential to be upgraded to a fleet management centre. He said:

“As a former chairman of the Public Account Committee within parliament, I am enthusiastic about driving efficiency within taxpayer funded services. This means improving services without bloating costs. I am glad that we have managed to finally agree, in principle, to keep our ambulance station open.”

Proposals under the service’s modernisation programme had planned to cut the number of full time ambulance stations from sixty-six down to thirteen. Mr Leigh, as part of a long-running dialogue with the EMAS Chief, had made clear that this would not leave the people of North Lincolnshire with the level of service they deserve. The new proposals are currently being costed and will be finalised before approval in March, they will include 131 bases and standby points across the area. An ambulance will remain on standby within Market Rasen to respond to call outs in the eastern part of the constituency.
Mr. Leigh concluded,

“When people need an ambulance, they need one immediately. I could never support cuts to the service levels and response time for my constituents. I am glad that this personal meeting with Phil Milligan has delivered the outcome we wanted – proposals for an improved ambulance service for people across North Lincolnshire, and Gainsborough ambulance station remaining open”