Ambulance stations are to share fire stations across Nottinghamshire after a deal between health and fire chiefs.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and the East Midlands Ambulance Service have signed a number of ‘co-location agreements’ that will see ambulance crews using some of the county’s fire stations as a base.
The stations that will be used by the two authorities include Ashfield, West Bridgford, Bingham and Mansfield and the two services say the deal signals a step forward in co-operation partnership between the two services.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to welcome our EMAS colleagues into some of our stations as part of the co-locating agreement,” says Wayne Bowcock, Deputy Chief Fire Officer at Nottinghamshire Police.
It makes perfect sense that we should work with our closest partner organisations to share resources and facilities as far as we can to ensure the best value service to our local communities.
“By co-locating we are further cementing that partnership, while maximising the efficiency of our stations, their facilities and the role they play in their local community.”
Also commenting on the joint venture, Sue Noyes, Chief Executive of EMAS, said that the co-location will provide a safe, comfortable and appropriate rest area for crews.
The introduction of shared facilities reduces our operating costs and allows us to spend more money on patient care.
” It also allows us to improve our relationship with other public services that we work very closely with on a day-to-day basis,” she added.
