Home / Health / Ambulance Service Cuts Raise Concerns for Patient Safety
Ambulance Service Cuts Raise Concerns for Patient Safety
13 Nov
Summary
- Proposal to reduce fast response vehicles by half
- Ambulance staff hours lost due to delays at hospitals
- Concerns that cuts will impact patient safety and outcomes
As of November 13th, 2025, the East Midlands Ambulance Service is facing a major review that could significantly impact patient care. The service is considering a proposal to reduce the number of fast response vehicles (FRVs) from 28 to just 14, a move that the Unison union says will "put patients at risk."
FRVs are smaller than full-sized ambulances but are equipped with life-saving equipment and staffed by skilled paramedics. They are often the first to arrive at emergencies, providing critical initial intervention before an ambulance can reach the scene. However, the ambulance service believes it can improve patient safety by increasing the number of double-crewed ambulances in the region.
The union argues that this plan "will not work" in practice. They point to the ongoing issue of ambulances being stuck in long queues outside hospitals, waiting to hand over patients to busy A&E departments. This is already causing staff to lose valuable hours that could be spent responding to emergencies. The union fears that cutting the FRV fleet by 50% will only exacerbate these delays, ultimately compromising patient outcomes.
The East Midlands Ambulance Service maintains that their goal is to "improve patient safety" rather than put lives at risk. They say the changes are aimed at enhancing overall service delivery and staff wellbeing. However, the union remains unconvinced, with ambulance lead Dave Limer calling the proposed cuts a "massive reduction" that will have a significant impact on patient safety.
