SOUTH Western Ambulance Service could be cutting the number of ambulances in the South Hams from eight to three.

While SWAS didn’t confirm the reduction in ambulances, they released a statement that said that they were ‘reviewing’ the way ambulances and paramedics are rostered, and that the review would ‘meet the growing public demand for our services and better manage peak times’.

Concerns were raised by a member of the local police force, after he heard rumours, and ‘emergency vehicles’ also includes the paramedic first response cars, often vital in the South Hams with it’s difficult geography.

The proposals come close on the heels of the imminent closure of Dartmouth and Kingswear Hospital, where uncertainty still remains over the setting up of new health care facilities at River View in Townstal.

A spokesperson for SWAS said: ‘A review of the way our emergency vehicles and staff are rostered is underway, so that we can provide an improved patient experience, make sure we have the right resources in the right places at the right time to meet the growing public demand for our services and better manage peak times in activity.

‘Discussions are ongoing at the moment in relation to how we can best achieve this and consequently this may involve the movement of some vehicles from their current stations to other places across South Devon.

‘Once finalised, any changes would take place during the summer of this year.’