We need to keep 999 control

The debate about the future of Shropshire Ambulance Service emergency control centre rages on - or is it just quietly being decided?

Already there has been one public meeting at Shirehall, but it was poorly attended. The next public meeting is on August 28. Let's hope a few more people of Shropshire sally forth to express their opinions.

Why should you? Well, how will you feel when your daughter, son, father or mother is ill, or suffers an accident, and the ambulance crew can't find you because details given by a passer-by are vague, because they may be a tourist, or just travelling through this huge county?

In an emergency, minutes count.

Let's keep Shropshire Ambulance Service in Shropshire, with all the local knowledge and expertise that our emergency control room staff have.

I heard some of the callers on Radio Shropshire arguing this debate. One man wanted us to pass "the knowledge". Add that to all the other roles that ambulance clinicians are trained for.

Next time that man's relatives are ill, or suffer an injury, I suggest he phones a taxi. See if it arrives in eight minutes.

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