Ambulance fleet is in state of emergency

From the Lancashire Telegraph, first published Tuesday 28th Aug 2007.

HEALTH watchdogs are set to quiz ambulance chiefs amid concerns over the state of the service's emergency vehicles fleet.

Representatives from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) have been invited to discuss a range of issues, from patient care to their ambulance fleet, with Blackburn with Darwen council's health scrutiny committee.

Earlier this month the Lancashire Telegraph reported how four out of 10 NWAS ambulances had reached the end of their normal shelf-life.

But the NHS trust has admitted it cannot afford to replace them during this financial year.

Coun Roy Davies, health scrutiny committee chairman, said: "It is important that we get a fleet of reliable transport when we are talking about blue-light emergencies being transferred from Burnley, and a lot of other places, to the Royal Blackburn Hospital in future."

Under the Meeting Patients Needs programme changes, three additional ambulance vehicles and more than 30 extra staff have been promised for East Lancashire.

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