Ambulance facilities in Tongham and Haslemere are facing a review as part of plans to centralise ambulance operations at a new £24.8 million facility in Farnborough.

South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) has confirmed it will review its existing properties in both towns, alongside facilities in Guildford, Godalming and Farnborough, to determine where ambulance response posts should be located.

The announcement raises questions about the future of existing ambulance stations, although the trust has not announced any closures.

SECAmb has exchanged contracts on a 40,000 sq ft building in Summit Avenue, Farnborough, which it plans to convert into a new Make Ready Centre, subject to planning permission.

Under the proposals, ambulance crews serving the Guildford operating area would start and finish their shifts at the new centre before responding to emergencies from a network of strategically located community response posts.

These posts would provide modern rest facilities for crews, while specialist teams at Farnborough would clean, restock and prepare ambulances between shifts.

However, the trust has yet to confirm whether its existing facilities in Tongham and Haslemere will be retained, relocated or replaced under the new arrangements.

SECAmb says the changes will improve efficiency and allow ambulance crews to spend more time responding to patients.

Josh Taylor, the trust's head of operations for Guildford, said: “Our Make Ready system represents the gold standard of vehicle preparation.

“Our plans will allow for more efficient cleaning, restocking and preparation of our vehicles, helping improve patient safety and ensuring our teams spend less time off the road and more time responding to patients.”

He added: “As we continue to face increased demand, it is important that we invest in our estate and reduce maintenance costs of our older buildings.

“By introducing the new centre alongside the network of more appropriately placed response posts, local communities can be reassured that our service to them is protected.”

The trust says the location of the new response posts will be determined by patient demand.

The Farnborough development would become SECAmb's 12th Make Ready Centre, joining existing facilities serving Surrey in Banstead and Chertsey.

The project is being funded through £24.8 million secured from NHS England.

A planning application is expected to be submitted to Rushmoor Borough Council by the end of October, with the purchase dependent on planning permission.

The trust hopes to complete the building programme by spring 2030.