Over 1,000 signatures to save Swanage ambulance car
Campaigners fear the service may be under threat in an upcoming review.
Over 1,000 people have signed a petition to save Swanage's only ambulance car.
The rapid response vehicle is often the first to the scene in an emergency. In 2019 alone it was called to 996 incidents.
Campaigners fear the service may be under threat in an upcoming review.
They want to gather at least 5,000 signatures to get Dorset Council to discuss the matter, and possibly back the campaign.
The decision ultimately falls to Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group who have previously denied any plans to cut the service.
In 2018 the CCG told the Dorset Health Scrutiny Committee Swanage ambulance station would remain open 24/7, fully manned with ambulances.
Swanage Town Councillor Debby Monkhouse said:
"Basically, we want to know that Dorset Council are going to hear this matter properly and they are going to call in that promise from the CCG should the CCG decide to go ahead and withdraw the car."
She says the impact of getting rid of the car would be felt far and wide.
"It would have a huge impact on the Isle of Purbeck, because the paramedic car attended 1875 emergencies in one year and nearly 1,000 of those were just in Swanage.
"As we're out on a limb here, not just Swanage but Purbeck, in that situation we're going to have the longest wait for an ambulance to get here, because an ambulance isn't going to be just passing Swanage.
"So not just Swanage, the whole of Purbeck relies on the paramedic car, because the paramedic car doesn't routinely take people to hospital, it preserves life until the ambulance comes."
A spokesperson for Dorset CCG and South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. said:
“We know how important it is to the community of Purbeck to have reassurance around the ongoing provision of healthcare services in the area. We understand the local community are interested in the future of the Rapid Response Vehicle.
"As part of our ongoing joint working, the healthcare system in Dorset is exploring options that best meets the needs of the local population now, and in the future, to ensure we can continue delivering excellent patient care.
"No changes will be made to the existing service until we’ve had the opportunity to engage and work with local stakeholders and representatives.”
To find out more about the petition, visit the petition's website.