Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what risk assessment his Department has undertaken on (a) proposals by the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to relocate Preston Ambulance Station in Deepdale to Lostock Hall and (b) the subsequent impact of that relocation on (i) ambulance waiting times for patients living in Preston, (ii) patient outcomes and (iii) NWAS staff terms and conditions.

No specific risk assessment has been made. The operational delivery of ambulance services, including decisions regarding its estate, is a matter for the local National Health Service. However, NHS England and NHS Improvement advise that the long-term national strategy for ambulance services is a transition to a hub and spoke model, which delivers operational benefits. Research and modelling on the impact on response times is ongoing, including potential mitigations. In line with the national NHS staff terms and conditions, increased home to work mileage associated with a change in base will be reimbursed to those staff directly impacted.

Funding for the North West Ambulance Service is allocated through NHS England and NHS Improvement’s commissioners. Financial plans for the period requested are still being finalised. The information requested on avoidable deaths in Preston and Lancashire is not collected centrally. NHS England and NHS Improvement advise that there have been no Regulation 28 reports issued by coroners regarding ambulance delays due to activity or available resources in Preston and Lancashire since 2018.