Health campaigner and former Torbay MP Kevin Foster has pledged the campaign to protect Paignton’s Ambulance Service will continue.
The pledge came after he presented the “Save Paignton Ambulance Station” petition to the Council of Governors of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWAFT) meeting today (Thursday 18th September 2025).
The Save Paignton Ambulance Station campaign was backed by nearly 900 residents, with campaigners delivering thousands of leaflets across Paignton alerting residents to the proposed closure. The Ambulance Service previously leased the building where Paignton Ambulance Station was located from St John Ambulance, yet the charity’s decision to sell their property meant the trust had to leave the site.
Ambulance crews and staff working at Paignton Ambulance Station have been relocated to a base in Torquay. Yet many Paignton residents are concerned about what the loss of a dedicated base for ambulance services will mean for response times and dealing with the health challenges of an aging population and areas of deprivation within Paignton, which place additional demands on health services.
In response to the petition in July SWAFT announced a Community Ambulance Point (CAP) would be built in Paignton. CAPs are modular buildings which operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are used by the ambulance service to facilitate staff welfare provision, operational standby and rest breaks, helping keep a regular presence in an area.
During a recent visit to the Mount Gould Hospital CAP in Plymouth Kevin Foster saw for himself what was planned for Paignton. Yet with details of the site not yet confirmed he has pledged to keep up the pressure until a Paignton CAP is opened.
Commenting Kevin Foster said: “Whilst it was mentioned ambulance crews would still be deployed into Paignton this is not the same as having a dedicated facility for them as promised in July. We cannot allow this pledge to simply be forgotten or allowed to slip. I will be continuing the campaign until the pledge made to the people of Paignton in response to the Save Paignton Ambulance Station petition is delivered.”
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