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April 1990 saw the closure of Greenbank and Crownhill ambulance
stations and NHS crews moved to
a new complex at Derriford. In 1993 the government reorganised local
ambulance arrangements which
saw the Devon Service merged with Cornwall and Somerset County Services
to form the Westcountry
Ambulance Services NHS Trust. |
In 1995 Medic Air European relocated to larger premises at Crownhill Fort
near to Derriford Hospital.
There can hardly be a more unique venue for an ambulance station and HQ
than Crownhill Fort. Built
in the 1860s by Lord Palmerston as a defence to the French, it is the largest
and most important of the
chain of great Victorian forts. The gun and cannon emplacements in the
walls show what a powerful
place this was and nearly all the cannons are fired regularly by the Landmark
Trust.
The fort was used by both the Royal
Artillery and Royal Engineers and saw active service during
WWII when it was garrisoned by regiments manning two nearby heavy anti-aircraft
batteries and
smaller anti-aircraft guns within the fort itself. The fort was last used
by 59 Commando during the Falklands War. Today, with its massive ramparts,
hidden gun emplacements and military exhibition, it also provides a modern
ambulance station, training centre and headquarters for Medic Air European.
In almost a century of providing ambulance services to the City of Plymouth,
there have been many changes - but whether carried out by those teenagers
of the
George Street Ambulance Corps or the highly trained and specialist On-Call
Paramedics of Medic Air European, that original motto 'Prepared to Help' still
applies.
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