As part of a shift to a new system, ambulance buildings in Tongham, Guildford, Godalming and Haslemere will be reviewed.
Subject to planning permission, the 40,000 sq ft property at Summit Avenue will be developed to become the Trust’s final centre for Surrey and twelfth overall.(Image: SECAmb)
A new ambulance station for Guildford residents may soon be built, but it won’t be in Guildford itself.
The South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) has exchanged contracts on a building in Farnborough, with the intention to turn it into a ‘Make Ready Centre’ for the people of Surrey.
The ‘Make Ready System’ is how ambulances are cleaned, restocked, and checked before and after every shift. These inspections are undertaken in purpose-built or converted buildings.
It is one of these buildings that SECAmb is proposing to create in Farnborough. This centre would serve ambulances and other emergency vehicles that care for people in and around Guildford.
There are already two Make Ready Centres in Surrey, found in Banstead and Chertsey. The Farnborough location would be the Trust’s final centre for Surrey and twelfth overall.
Farnborough has been chosen as a location because it is close to the main A&E Departments at Royal Surrey and Frimley Park Hospitals, reducing travel times for ambulances that require restocking or cleaning after attending A&E and before returning to a town requiring ambulance cover.
When ambulances leave the make-ready centres, they often head to Ambulance Community Response Posts. These are spread across the county and provide rest facilities for staff between emergencies. They normally accommodate one crew at any one time
As part of changes under the Make Ready system, the Trust will review its existing buildings in Farnborough, Tongham, Guildford, Godalming and Haslemere to determine where the response posts would be best located in the towns.
SECAmb has previously said that any decision regarding the closure of ambulance stations would be made on an individual basis.
The new centre would serve the Guildford Operating Unit. Josh Taylor, Head of Operations for Guildford, said: “Our Make Ready system represents the gold standard of vehicle preparation. Our plans will allow for more efficient cleaning, restocking and preparation of our vehicles, helping improve patient safety and ensuring our teams spend less time off the road and more time responding to patients.
“The plans also ensure we provide modern fit-for-purpose facilities for our teams and improve our response to the public. Reporting centrally, teams will also have improved training facilities and increased support from managers.
“As we continue to face increased demand, it is important that we invest in our estate and reduce maintenance costs of our older buildings. By introducing the new centre alongside the network of more appropriately placed response posts, local communities can be reassured that our service to them is protected.”
The project is being funded through £24.8 million of investment secured from NHS England.
The exchange of contracts is conditional on planning permission, with an application due to be submitted to Rushmoor Borough Council at the end of October. The aim is to complete the building programme by Spring 2030.