Ambulances will be based at more of Nottinghamshire's fire stations in a bid to create a more streamlined service.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service have teamed up to sign a number of 'co-location' agreements.
The scheme, which is already in place at Ashfield, West Bridgford, Bingham, Stockhill and Mansfield fire stations, will see EMAS staff use more of the county's 24 fire stations as a base to park up and wait for 999 calls to attend, as well as take rest and meal breaks.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Wayne Bowcock said: "We are extremely pleased to be able to welcome our EMAS colleagues into some of our stations as part of the co-locating agreement. It makes perfect sense that we should work with our closest partner organisations to share resources and facilities as far as we can, to ensure the best value service to our local communities.
"Our crews are used to working alongside their colleagues from the other emergency services when responding to incidents, while training and when taking part in events and initiatives. By co-locating we are further cementing that partnership, while maximising the efficiency of our stations, their facilities and the role they play in their local community."
Sue Noyes, chief executive of EMAS said: "We're really pleased to be working in collaboration with NFRS on the introduction of Community Ambulance Stations.
"They will provide a safe, comfortable and appropriate rest area should a local crew have the opportunity to have a brief rest, a hot drink or use the toilet facilities in-between responding to 999 calls - on average, we get a new call every 45 seconds and so crews spend the vast majority of their working day 'on the road'. This will be much better than them having to standby at the roadside which is currently the case.
"The introduction of shared facilities reduces our operating costs and allows us to spend more money on patient care. It also allows us to improve our relationship with other public services that we work very closely with on a day-to-day basis."
