Swanage campaigners bid to save ambulance car
They've been sharing their life saving stories
Campaigners in Swanage are sharing their rescue stories in a bid to save their Rapid Response Vehicle.
They believe the Purbeck Ambulance Car which is provides dedicated coverage for Swanage could be at threat due to planned cuts.
They've compiled a booklet featuring local stories about the car to show how essential it is for the town.
Hannah Attride says her daughter's life has been saved on multiple occasions because of the car. Everley has complex epilepsy which can stop her breathing at a moments notice.
Hannah told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:
"We manage her condition well at home using medication, but there are times when she has stopped breathing and we need that ambulance there as fast as possible.
"The last time we used it was under a year ago. Everley was blue, the car was there within 90-seconds, she had oxygen, she was stabilised before the ambulance arrived 25 minutes later.
"We would be left managing that at home."
Debby Monkhouse is a local councillor. She says losing the car wouldn't be acceptable:
"We've got an ambulance and an ambulance car, but the difference is the ambulance can be used anywhere in the county.
"Because the Ambulance Trust are so short of ambulances, it's pulled out all the time.
"The Ambulance Car is usually the first on the scene in an emergency here. It's one paramedic so it kind of saves the double crewed ambulance. It manages 50% of the time to treat people at the scene and then the other half of the time it preserves life until an ambulance comes, which we can wait up to 5 hours for an ambulance to come, I'm afraid."
Why is the ambulance car under threat?
Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group says there are no firm plans to axe the car, and they are in conversation with the community over what is needed.
They said in a joint statement with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust:
"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."