A fleet of NHS ambulances will provide urgent care for those
injured by Russian attacks in Ukraine following a donation from
the UK.
The donation of around 20 NHS ambulances will help bring vital
lifesaving care to Ukrainians remaining in towns and cities under
attack from Russian bombardments.
This donation will help replace those Ukrainian ambulances lost
to Russian attacks, bolstering the existing fleet’s resilience as
the barbaric war goes on.
It is estimated more than 12 million people are currently in need
of humanitarian assistance across Ukraine.
The conflict has stretched Ukraine’s health services, with
Russia’s indiscriminate attacks targeting civilian shelters and
even hospitals.
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is
leading the way, donating four of its ambulances, with further
donations from NHS trusts across the country soon to follow.
The first ambulances will arrive in Ukraine this week, destined
for Lviv in the west of the country, where they will be
transported on to those areas most in need.
Foreign Secretary said:
“We have sadly seen day after day the horrific impacts of Putin’s
cruel war on the people of Ukraine, including evidence of
appalling acts by Russian troops in towns such as Irpin and
Bucha.
“The UK has been among the biggest aid donors, providing food,
medicines and generators to help those affected. These world
class NHS ambulances will now help bring lifesaving care directly
to those injured in the conflict.”
Health and Social Care Secretary, , said:
“The UK government has stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine
and provided them with the lifesaving medical equipment they
need.
“The invasion has damaged key medical infrastructure and the
generous donation of four ambulances by South Central Ambulance
Service will ensure people in Ukraine can receive urgent care. It
marks the first of many ambulances the UK government and the NHS
is donating to Ukraine in the coming days.”
Paul Kempster, SCAS Chief Operating Officer
said:
“Ambulance Trusts around the country have been rallying to
provide ambulances and we in SCAS are immensely humbled to also
be able to support those in need in Ukraine.
“We hope that this small gesture goes some way to helping provide
immediate frontline healthcare support to the many people who
desperately need it.”
This latest funding and donation comes in addition to the nearly
£400 million (£394m) already pledged by the UK for the conflict
in Ukraine, including £220 million of humanitarian aid.
To date, the UK has donated more than five million items of
medical supplies to Ukraine to help the country cope with the
medical emergency caused by the Russian invasion. Last month the
UK government also brought 21 Ukrainian children with cancer to
receive care through the NHS in England.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. UK NHS trusts have donated ambulances to the
Government of Ukraine, following a request from HMG. The NHS’s
national ambulance service fleet strategy requires the
replacement of ambulance vehicles every five years. After this
time, vehicles are decommissioned and either kept back for
resilience, given to approved charities or sent to
auction. All vehicles and medical supplies are checked
before being sent to ensure they meet the standards required.
2. To date the UK has donated 5.29 million
items of medical supplies to Ukraine, including:
· Nearly 3,000 adult
resuscitators
· Around 220,000 wound care
packs
· Over 550,000 sterile
needles
· Over 50,000 packs of
bandages
· 1,600 pieces of equipment
for ventilators
· Over 75,000 cannulas
· Around 380,000 packs of
medicines – around 2.8million doses - including antibiotics and
painkillers
· 72,000 packs of gloves
· 28,000 FFP3 masks
