SIR,
I am currently employed by the ambulance service as a member of the emergency services.
I am based at the Monmouth station, where I have been for many years.
Firstly, as far as I am aware, the station needs a combi boiler with around six radiators to get us through the winter period.
In the boiler room itself, asbestos has been discovered, but if it is left alone it will not harm employees, who do not go into the boiler room anyway.
Secondly, the fire station next door has agreed to let the rapid response vehicle be based there. While this is good news, not to allow the ambulance to be based there too seems strange.
It would mean that only two crew members would start and finish their shift in the fire station.
While the rapid response vehicle is a welcome addition to our town, we need an emergency ambulance to back it up as quickly as possible.
We have been told that our ambulance will now be based at Abergavenny. Why? We have also been told that the ambulance will be moved back to Monmouth at the start of each shift.
In my experience, as soon as we start our shift it is more likely that the ambulance will be used for 999 calls in the Abergavenny and valleys areas – not Monmouth.
Even now, when we have less busy periods we normally get sent to Abergavenny on standby anyway.
Monmouth is out on a limb, so whenever possible we need full emergency cover.
In reply to Mr Fletcher's letter, as far as I know, the ambulance service has no present plans to repair the station.
If repairs cannot be carried out, then let us move to the fire station next door. This would seem to be the best option at this moment in time. Let us hope that someone can help us with this situation.
On a personal level, as a member of this town I do not want to see our ambulance moved to Abergavenny.
(Name and address supplied)