Steel signing ceremony takes place for state-of-the-art ambulance hub

The MP for Ipswich, Jack Abbott, met with EEAST CEO, Neill Moloney, and other stakeholders on Friday 17 January for a walkthrough of the site in Ransome Park and to sign a steel beam.

The £12.81m hub will house a 24/7 make ready and workshop service, which will keep more ambulances on the road and clean and restock vehicles. It will also have dedicated welfare spaces where staff can relax, including quiet spaces and a wellbeing garden.

Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich and the Government’s East of England Mission Champion, said: “My thanks go to Neill and all the team at EEAST for showing me around the site today.

“The hub will help deliver better outcomes for patients here in Ipswich, helping to slash local waiting times.

“I look forward to returning to see the finished facility later this year.”

The hub will act as a base for 100 staff, who will move from the current outdated site in Woodbridge Road East. Plans include a two-storey car park, providing spaces for 78 cars and 29 ambulances. There is also the potential for two more levels to be added in the future, if demand increases.

Neill Moloney, Chief Executive, said: “It was a pleasure to meet with Mr Abbott and show him the progress we have made on site.

“This state-of-the-art hub will provide a modern base for our people and focus on their wellbeing, as well as ensuring we are keeping more vehicles on the road with dedicated facilities for our make ready teams.”

A total of £10m in funding will be provided by the Department of Health and Social Care, with a further £2.81m being provided by EEAST.

Approval was granted for the hub in April 2024 and will open around September 2025.