HEALTH bosses have been accused of making back door cuts to the Swanage paramedic car – ahead of their promised consultation on its future.

Cllr Bill Trite says a reduction in staffing for the car in 2021 amount to a 42 per cent cut in the time it was available.

His claim has led to Dorset Council writing to the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group asking for an explanation and for more information about the consultation process.

The Swanage councillor told a Cabinet meeting: “Notwithstanding the even greater local concern that the Ambulance Car may soon be withdrawn, a recent Freedom of Information response by the Ambulance Trust revealed that the car was staffed for only 42 per cent of the time throughout 2021, representing a swingeing de facto reduction of this service without any due consultation process.”

Dorset Council has promised to have its own task and finish group to look at the future provision of ambulance cover in the Swanage area. It says unless the proposals to reduce the ambulance car cover are withdrawn it would expect the group to start work in April, inviting Swanage councillors to meet with it to offer evidence.

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “The Purbeck Car remains in operation and is included within the SWASFT resourcing plan.

“We and the wider NHS continue to experience a sustained high level of demand, whilst also being impacted with the inevitable increases of staff absences during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The ambulance car based at Swanage is no exception to this demand and impact.

“We know and understand that the local communities have a vested interest in the future of this resource. The NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and SWASFT are listening to the views of local people and this exercise is now continuing.”