The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Ambulance station opens in Dunfermline.
Dunfermline: New station boasts top-class facilities which will help provide a high standard of care
A new purpose-built ambulance station has been officially opened in Dunfermline.
The £1.3 million facility, which was unveiled by health secretary Shona Robison, will serve as an operational base for 44 staff in total.
Three emergency ambulances will be stationed at the new base in Pitreavie, along with one urgent tier ambulance, a paramedic response unit and seven patient transport service vehicles.
In the last year, Dunfermline crews responded to more than 8,000 emergencies as well as GP requests for urgent patient transfers to hospital and routine medical calls.
Patient transport service crews undertook more than 20,000 journeys taking those with medical need for transport to and from hospital appointments.
“I am delighted to open Dunfermline’s new ambulance station and to meet with staff,” Ms Robison said.
“The investment in this station is a great example of our continued commitment to the Scottish Ambulance Service, and to the patients who rely on both the emergency service and patient transport service every day.
“This new station has been built to a very high standard and will provide staff with a comfortable new base to work from,” she added.
“It also boasts state-of-the-art training and conference facilities which will help the service as it continues to grow and develop its workforce.”
The building is fully compliant with all the latest NHS standards for control of infection, with improved laundry, sluice and vehicle cleaning facilities.
It also incorporates the latest environmentally friendly heating and lighting systems.
The teams at the station now benefit from new locker rooms and changing areas, along with state-of-the-art conference and training facilities.
Scottish Ambulance Service chairman David Garbutt said: “The new station is the result of considerable hard work and has been designed from scratch to meet our needs.
“It is finished to the highest standards and provides a modern, fit-for-purpose workplace
“It is a significant improvement that supports ongoing operational and clinical skills development.
“The facilities are of the highest quality and meet all of the stringent NHS hygiene standards.
“The development is part of our national property investment strategy to upgrade our stations across the country to meet the needs of our staff and patients, providing the highest standards of clinical care.”
Fife division has seven stations in St Andrews, Cupar, Leven, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline.
The facilities are of the highest quality and meet all of the stringent NHS hygiene standards. DAVID GARBUTT