New ambulance hub is so important, says NHS boss

Neill Moloney said the investment in the new hub would improve efficiency

An NHS boss said a new ambulance hub was "so important" for the service as it coped with increasing demand.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) opened the Ipswich Ambulance Hub on Friday.

The trust said the £12.81m development on Ransomes Industrial Estate in the town would enhance operational efficiency and staff wellbeing.

Neill Moloney, chief executive of the trust, said: "This investment was so important to ensure we are modernising the facilities and making them ready for what we will likely see as an increase in demand in the next few years."

Mr Moloney said the hub would make a "huge difference" in the trust's ability to get vehicles back on the road and attending incidents as quickly as possible.

The £12.81m facility was funded by EEAST and the Department of Health and Social Care

The Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, Countess of Euston, formally opened the hub.

EEAST said the new facility included:

• A vehicle repair workshop and vehicle preparation area

• Comprehensive "make ready" services to ensure ambulances are restocked, cleaned and maintained

• A two-storey car park with a capacity for 78 cars and 29 ambulances, with the ability for it to be extended

• Quiet rooms, relaxation areas, a multi-faith room and a dedicated wellbeing garden

Ms Gaskin said everyone had seemed happy about the new facility

Kerry Gaskin, local area manager for the trust, said: "It is a state-of-the-art purpose-built station and is just brilliant for staff wellbeing."

About 160 staff had relocated to the new site from the previous location on Woodbridge Road East.

A vehicle repair workshop and vehicle preparation area was built as part of the development

EEAST received £10m funding from the Department of Health and Social Care.

It also secured funding of £109,000 from Great British Energy to install solar panels, which the trust says would help to achieve its net zero carbon emissions.

Mr Moloney said EEAST was looking to implement similar facilities across the region.