Modern ambulances will be responding to emergency 999 calls
across Wales, thanks to £22.45m investment by the Welsh
Government.
More than 140 new ambulances and vehicles will be part of the
first phase of a five-year Welsh Ambulance Services fleet
strategy, which will see older vehicles replaced with new
ambulances and vehicles fitted with the latest technology,
materials, and products.
The wider strategy, which runs to 2030, includes prioritising
electric and hybrid vehicles, where viable, 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, 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.”
