Bosses to axe 999 ambulance control

Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s decision will see the Rotherham-based control room shut next year with operations transferred to Wakefield.

A second control room for the region will continue to be run from York.

The decision, made at a board meeting, follows a 12 week consultation with staff and public.

Critics are concerned the move could lead to job losses among the 63 staff employed at the Moorgate Road site, which could impact on service quality.

Staff are also worried operators will lack the local knowledge needed to direct ambulances accurately.

But managers insist the move will not affect patient safety and say efforts will be made to avoid redundancies.