Lib Dem leader Ed Davey challenges Prime Minister over Rugby ambulance station closure

At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 17 November 2021, Ed Davey MP, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, raised the issue of ambulance response times and the closure of 10 community stations across the West Midlands including in Rugby.

Ed Davey said, "Ambulance response times are now the worst ever, people are waiting for ambulances longer than ever, and with A&Es in crisis, patients are stuck in ambulances outside hospital longer than ever."

He added, "Waiting times are not statistics; they are about people-people often in great pain and in danger-so why are this Government closing ambulance stations in parts of our country?

Putting pressure on the Prime Minister, Ed Davey asked, "Why is the West Midlands ambulance service closing up to 10 community stations, including in Rugby, Oswestry and Craven Arms? With this health crisis for our ambulance services and in our A&Es, injured, sick and elderly people are being hit. When will the Prime Minister deal with this health crisis?"

Commenting, Councillor Tim Douglas (Paddox) said:

"Residents in Rugby are rightly worried about closures of ambulance services, so it is welcoming that the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey MP has taken this issue to the very top and raised it with the Prime Minister.

"For too long Rugby has been taken for granted, St Cross Hospital has been downgraded over the years, GPs are under pressure and now Accident and Emergency wait times are getting out of hand. People deserve better.

"Thousands of people in Rugby signed a petition opposing the planned closure of Rugby Community Ambulance Station and if the Conservatives are serious about Levelling Up then they should be doing more to support residents and provide Rugby with the services that it deserves.

"Our MP should be working full time on this issue."