Concerns over ambulance cover raised at meeting

Lib Dem campaigner Julie Pörksen has raised ongoing concerns about the level of ambulance cover for north Northumberland.
An ambulance in Berwick.An ambulance in Berwick.
An ambulance in Berwick.

She attended last week’s North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) board meeting held in Rothbury.

She called on NEAS to make greater efforts in turning around Northumberland’s ambulances at the new Cramlington hospital and redeploying them to their bases, rather than elsewhere in the region.

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She also requested greater co-operation with local authorities and highways to ensure road closures and major roadworks were not presenting danger to the public through disruption of ambulance services. This follows a proposal to close the A697 for eight days for roadworks.

NEAS has undertaken to request greater cooperation and information from local authorities in advance.

Community First Responder Mark Mather, from Wooler, requested further investment and support for First Responders.

Ms Pörksen said: “I shall be following up on NEAS’s promises to make sure they are doing everything they can to improve the ambulance service, which remains of great concern to many people I meet.”

She added: “It was reassuring to hear NEAS respond to Mark’s request for further investment and acknowledging the importance of their contribution to emergency health in rural areas.”