Plans to develop a new Make Ready Centre for South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) operations in Banstead, Surrey, have been given the green light by council planners.
Building work on what was formerly SECAmb’s HQ at The Horseshoe, and what will be the first purpose-built Make Ready Centre in Surrey, is expected to begin next year ahead of it becoming fully operational by spring 2022. The three-storey development will accommodate a fleet workshop and the Trust’s Make Ready vehicle preparation system – already well-embedded across other parts of Surrey, Sussex and Kent – along with a modern, open-plan office space complete with training, rest and wellbeing facilities.
Make Ready Centres house specialist teams of staff employed to clean, restock and maintain the Trust’s fleet. SECAmb currently operates eight Make Ready Centres across its region with the latest set to open in Brighton in the coming months.
It is the intention that ambulance crews currently starting and ending their shifts at Epsom, Leatherhead, Redhill, Dorking and Godstone ambulance stations will, instead, start and finish at the new centre. SECAmb will ensure a responsive service with the introduction of ambulance community response posts in the towns with suitable rest facilities for crews between calls and when on a break. These will either be on the site of current ambulance stations or at nearby locations which match patient demand.
SECAmb Operating Unit Manager for Gatwick and Redhill Operating Unit, Jo Crerar, said: “I’m delighted the Banstead project has been given the go-ahead by planners. Our current building is outdated, lacks space and is no longer fit for purpose.
“This latest stage in the roll-out of our Make Ready system is a first for Surrey and an important step in the development of the service we are able to provide our patients locally. The system is more efficient and also means ambulance crews have access to improved modern facilities for training.
“The new MRC will also enable SECAmb to expand its training facilities and offer opportunities for collaboration out to a wider group of stakeholders, principally our own volunteer workforce and other community partners.
“We understand that changes like this have an impact on staff and we will fully engage with all those the development affects ahead of go live in 2022.”
SECAmb Operating Unit Manager for Gatwick and Redhill Operating Unit, Jo Crerar, said: “I’m delighted the Banstead project has been given the go-ahead by planners. Our current building is outdated, lacks space and is no longer fit for purpose.
“This latest stage in the roll-out of our Make Ready system is a first for Surrey and an important step in the development of the service we are able to provide our patients locally. The system is more efficient and also means ambulance crews have access to improved modern facilities for training.
“The new MRC will also enable SECAmb to expand its training facilities and offer opportunities for collaboration out to a wider group of stakeholders, principally our own volunteer workforce and other community partners.
“We understand that changes like this have an impact on staff and we will fully engage with all those the development affects ahead of go live in 2022.”
What is Make Ready?
- The Make Ready initiative significantly enhances and improves the service SECAmb provides to the community.
- It minimises the risk of cross-infection, frees up front-line staff – who traditionally cleaned and re-stocked 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.
- Make Ready Centres are supported by a network of Ambulance Community Responses Posts (ACRPs) across the area. It is the intention that staff will begin and end their shifts at the new centre.
- During their shifts, staff will respond from the ACRPs which will provide facilities for staff. These are located based on patient demand.
- Crews are expected to continue to respond from the same towns under the system but begin and end their shifts at staggered times with a vehicle that is fully prepared for them.
- The system ensures crews have access to improved training facilities and opportunities and increased support from managers.