Bedford’s ambulance call centre has won a temporary reprieve after the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) threatened to close it down, says UNISON today.
The trust runs three emergency operation centres (EOCs) — in Bedford, Colchester and Norwich — where trained staff receive 999 calls, give life-saving assistance and send ambulances where they’re needed.
In September, EEAST told staff it wanted to shut the Bedford EOC and send calls to Chelmsford or Norwich. Staff were told they would have to move if they wanted to keep their jobs, says the union.
But the trust’s board voted against the closure this month after being presented with a UNISON petition signed by more than 2,500 concerned residents.
East of England MPs have also been putting pressure on the trust after UNISON organised a lobby of Parliament in December, says the union.
However, UNISON has warned that, despite the reprieve, the Bedford call centre could still be under threat if the council refuses to make necessary improvements to the building.
UNISON Eastern regional organiser Lucas Bertholdi-Saad said: “This is great news for staff and the public. Thousands of people fought against the closure and the campaign enjoyed the support of MPs.
“But staff are not out of the woods yet. EEAST must improve the Bedford call centre so staff can continue to provide local people with vital, often life-saving assistance, when they need it.”
