East Midlands Ambulance Service is to announce controversial plans to close ambulance stations across the East Midlands. Earlier this month, ITV News Central learnt that EMAS backed down on plans to close around 13 stations.
Plans have been approved for controversial changes to ambulance services in the East Midlands, which will mean fewer regular ambulance stations.
Last week East Midlands Ambulance backed down on plans to close Hinckley in Leicestershire, but today it confirmed that scores of older sites will be shut.
The Trust says a system of using hubs has already been a success in parts of the West Midlands.
Plans to restructure East Midlands Ambulance Service have been approved.
It will mean fewer main ambulance stations but smaller community ambulance sites, many of which could be shared with existing emergency services.
The approval plans are for 28 main ambulance stations and 108 community ambulance stations which will be sites where staff can rest between jobs.
The Chief Executive of East Midlands Ambulance Service has told a board meeting that proposed changes are aimed at improving response times and improving the working lives of frontline staff.
The Service provides emergency 999 and urgent care across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.
It currently employs around 2,700 staff at more than 70 locations.
Members of the trust's board are discussing in depth their concerns over major restructuring plans, which will be decided this afternoon.
Members of the "Save Our Services" campaign group have also attended this morning's East Midlands Ambulance Service meeting.
They have held protests against the proposed changes, which could see several ambulance stations close.
The GMB Union has described the proposals as "reckless, ridiculous and foolish".
It also claims that the changes will not improve response times and will isolate communities.
Members of the Ambulance Trust Board are currently discussing the plans.
A decision is due later today.
A meeting has started in Nottinghamshire to finalise major restructuring plans for ambulance services in the East Midlands.
The Trust wants to reduce the number of ambulance stations and instead create several "hubs".
Members of the East Midlands Ambulance board are discussing the proposals at King's Mill Hospital in Sutton in Ashfield.
Campaigners have voiced concerns over the proposed changes. In some communities protests have been held and residents have signed petitions in an attempt to keep their local ambulance stations open.
A decision is due today on controversial plans that could see ambulance stations closed across the East Midlands.
East Midlands Ambulance Service wants to create 'super stations' and close smaller ones.
Unison is campaigning against the plan, and is due to protest outside the meeting that is being held this morning.
ITV News Central has learned that East Midlands Ambulance Service may back down on plans to close a number of ambulance stations.
The Trust has revised its controversial proposals to shut 66 stations and replace them with "super-hubs".
Peter Bearne reports.
ITV News Central has learnt that East Midlands Ambulance Service has backed down on plans to close around 13 ambulance stations in the region.
There has been widespread anger at the Trust's proposals to shut dozens of sites and create a network of hubs.
Following a public consultation, the Trust is now planning to retain stations in towns including Hinckley, Eastwood, Worksop and Grantham.
The Trust will make a final decision at a meeting later this month.
