Concerned residents and campaigners must surely be left with yet more questions than answers after Monday nights Parliamentary Adjournment Debate. When is a statistic not a statistic? When is a target achieved really a target missed? What is the reason for change, improved service to the community or financial savings?

East Midlands Regional Policy Officer Cllr Phil Knowles called months ago for EMAS Bosses to prove their case for change and calm the concerns of residents, to explain how cutting stations, having hubs plus Ambulances working increasingly from lay-bys and crews working out of small portacabin style units would improve the service.

'' To cut to the chase, residents want to know they will have an ambulance when they need it, quickly and without delay. They want assurances they will have the service they require to fit the incident or accident, a single paramedic, a rapid response unit etc but talking as I have done with residents and crews there is little confidence of improvements. EMAS are working with peoples lives and not just with statistics. They tell us they are now looking at 5 options, maybe they should consider an option 6..... give us the absolute facts. Every penny, every problem, every piece of information warts and all - then we can understand what they really need to do to move forward.