Polegate Make Ready Centre moves a step closer
Thursday, 20 March, 2014
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) plans to create its first centralised Make Ready Centre in Sussex have moved a step closer.
A planning application to develop a centre in Polegate was given the green light by Wealden District Council planning committee at a meeting on Thursday, 6 March.
The next stage will be for the Trust’s Board to approve the full business case for development.
If the Board agrees, this will set the wheels in motion for contractors to move on to the site just off Cophall Farm roundabout. It is hoped the new centre will be operational some time during 2015.
Senior operations manager for the area, James Pavey was delighted that the application was granted.
He said: “A great deal of effort from the project team has gone into the planning of this centre which will provide us with facilities that will not only ensure that our staff can get on with the job of treating patients rather time spent cleaning and restocking vehicles; it will also mean local job opportunities for our Make Ready operatives.
“As an ambulance operational centre, it will have great training and meeting facilities local to the area – something we have needed for quite some time.”
The Make Ready initiative will significantly enhance and improve the service SECAmb provides to the community.
It minimises the risk of cross-infection; frees up front-line staff, who currently clean and re-stock ambulances, to spend more time treating patients; and keeps vehicles on the road for longer.
The initiative ensures that specially trained operatives regularly deep-clean, restock and check vehicles for mechanical faults.
The Make Ready Centre will be supported by a network of ambulance community responses posts (ACRPs) across the area and will see staff, currently working at Eastbourne, Hailsham, Heathfield , Newhaven and Uckfield, begin and end their shifts at the new centre.
However during their shifts, staff will respond from the ACRPs which will provide facilities for staff.
Work is under way to have the new ACRPs in place for when the new centre becomes operational – thus protecting and improving the delivery of services to local communities.
The Trust is looking to introduce response posts at the following locations – Eastbourne West, Eastbourne East, Hailsham, Heathfield, Newhaven, Polegate, Uckfield and Seaford.
The Trust already has five Make Ready Centres in Ashford (Kent), Chertsey, Hastings, Paddock Wood and Thanet.
