More than 140 new ambulances and vehicles, including electric and hybrid variants, are set to replace older ones in the Welsh Ambulance Service.
Part of a five-year its fleet strategy, which runs to 2030, it includes prioritising electric and hybrid vehicles where viable, in order to reduce carbon emissions, and covers all vehicles operated by the Welsh Ambulance Service.
This includes the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service, which helps people attend hospital appointments and transfers patients between hospitals.
The Welsh Government investment in the fleet of 142 new ambulances and vehicles comes as the Welsh Ambulance Service is poised to introduce improvements to the way it responds to the most serious 999 emergency calls.
The changes, which come into force in July, are designed to save more lives and improve people’s outcomes following a cardiac arrest, a serious illness, incident or accident.
Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said:
“This investment shows our commitment to ensuring the Welsh Ambulance Service has the modern, reliable fleet it needs to deliver exceptional care for people across Wales.
“The ambulance service plays a critical role not just in emergency response, but also supporting patient flow through the wider healthcare system.
“By replacing 142 vehicles, we’re improving the resilience of our emergency response capabilities and supporting our environmental goals.”
Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Resources at the Welsh Ambulance Service, Chris Turley, said:
“We’re very grateful to the Welsh Government for the continual investment, which enables us to operate a modern, efficient and fit-for-purpose fleet.
“Embracing the latest technologies and innovations whilst working in partnership with staff and trade union partners is essential to provide the best possible experience for patients, as well as an ergonomically-friendly working environment for staff, who spend the majority of their working day aboard these vehicles.
“As the national ambulance service for Wales, spread over an area of 8,000 square miles, improving air quality is something we’re very committed to, so these cleaner and greener vehicles reinforce our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint in alignment with the Welsh Government’s net zero strategic plan.”
The news comes as the issue of electrifying emergency services will be discussed at Transport + Energy’s upcoming Fleet Electrification Forum on 9 July at Warwick Conferences. Find out more here.
Image courtesy of the Welsh Ambulance Service.
