Save Bridlington Hospital

Campaigners are fighting plans for a single ambulance service covering all of Yorkshire.

Councillors claim plans for the giant ambulance service could have an adverse impact on people living in East Yorkshire.

The Department of Health wants to cut the number of ambulance services from 31 to 11 and has started a public consultation.

The proposal is for one ambulance service to cover the whole of Yorkshire, parts of Teeside and North Lincolnshire - an area larger than Wales.

The Government claims it will cut bureaucracy and costs and make the ambulance service more efficient.

But two East Riding councillors claim two ambulance services would be better than one.

They want an alternative that would see the region carved into two trusts, one dealing with more urban areas of West and South Yorkshire, and the other dealing with the rest of the area, including Hull and the East Riding.

Councillors Jonathan Owen and Jane Evison have already put their case to North Yorkshire Borough Council and have been backed by its health scrutiny committee.

On Monday, they will meet council representatives from the Yorkshire and Humberside Association of Local Authorities, in the hope of gaining further support.

Then on Tuesday they will speak to East Riding Council's overview and scrutiny committee for health.

Councillor Owen, deputy leader of East Riding Council, said: "The worry is if they merged into a huge service, all the resources will go into urban areas and rural areas will have secondary provision."

Jenny Godfrey, 19, an administration assistant, from Molescroft near Beverley, had to call an ambulance when her father Stephen, 52, went into a diabetic coma.

She said: "We couldn't pull him round from his coma, so we called to get an ambulance.

"They were round in minutes and they were really good. There's nothing wrong with the service as it is."

Michael Jenkins, of Beverley, used to drive for the current Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas), which covers East Yorkshire.

Mr Jenkins, who was part of a back-up service used to ferry blood and be the second line of ambulance provision, said he was not convinced by the proposal for one large ambulance service.

He said: "I don't think it would work as it's too big an area. I think two services is a far better idea."

Councillor Mary Glew, portfolio holder for health at Hull City Council, said she would like to know more about the scheme from the East Riding. She said: "It probably would be a good idea for them to come to our scrutiny committee and have a presentation."

The consultation on merging the ambulance services comes as both the fire and police services are both also looking into the benefits of larger scale operations.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said she could not comment on the proposal until the consultation ends on March 22.

No one from Tees, East And North Yorkshire Ambulance Service was available to comment.

A copy of the full consultation document is available by calling (01482) 303516 or by visiting www.neynlha.nhs.uk

AMBULANCE PLANS ' WILL HIT PATIENTS'
Campaigners are fighting plans for a single ambulance service covering all of Yorkshire. Councillors claim plans for the giant ambulance service could have an adverse impact on people living in East Yorkshire. The Department of Health wants to cut the number of ambulance services from 31 to 11 and has started a public consultation. The proposal is for one ambulance service to cover the whole of Yorkshire, parts of Teeside and North Lincolnshire - an area larger than Wales. The Government claims it will cut bureaucracy and costs and make the ambulance service more efficient. But two East Riding councillors claim two ambulance services would be better than one. They want an alternative that would see the region carved into two trusts, one dealing with more urban areas of West and South Yorkshire, and the other dealing with the rest of the area, including Hull and the East Riding. Councillors Jonathan Owen and Jane Evison have already put their case to North Yorkshire Borough Council and have been backed by its health scrutiny committee. On Monday, they will meet council representatives from the Yorkshire and Humberside Association of Local Authorities, in the hope of gaining further support. Then on Tuesday they will speak to East Riding Council's overview and scrutiny committee for health. Councillor Owen, deputy leader of East Riding Council, said: "The worry is if they merged into a huge service, all the resources will go into urban areas and rural areas will have secondary provision." Jenny Godfrey, 19, an administration assistant, from Molescroft near Beverley, had to call an ambulance when her father Stephen, 52, went into a diabetic coma. She said: "We couldn't pull him round from his coma, so we called to get an ambulance. "They were round in minutes and they were really good. There's nothing wrong with the service as it is." Michael Jenkins, of Beverley, used to drive for the current Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas), which covers East Yorkshire. Mr Jenkins, who was part of a back-up service used to ferry blood and be the second line of ambulance provision, said he was not convinced by the proposal for one large ambulance service. He said: "I don't think it would work as it's too big an area. I think two services is a far better idea." Councillor Mary Glew, portfolio holder for health at Hull City Council, said she would like to know more about the scheme from the East Riding. She said: "It probably would be a good idea for them to come to our scrutiny committee and have a presentation." The consultation on merging the ambulance services comes as both the fire and police services are both also looking into the benefits of larger scale operations. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said she could not comment on the proposal until the consultation ends on March 22. No one from Tees, East And North Yorkshire Ambulance Service was available to comment. A copy of the full consultation document is available by calling (01482) 303516 or by visiting www.neynlha.nhs.uk

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