100 new vehicles for Welsh Ambulance Service
THE Welsh Ambulance Service is set to replace 100 ambulances and other passenger transport vehicles with new, more efficient and greener vehicles.
Health Secretary Vaughan Gething says the new ambulances will be more manoeuvrable and meet the latest Euro 6 emissions standards.
The fleet, to be deployed across Wales as part of £10m of funding, includes 25 new ambulances, 33 emergency response motorcycles, 33 non-emergency passenger transport vehicles and nine specialist emergency vehicles for major incidents.
The Welsh Ambulance Service currently has more than 700 vehicles in its fleet, which cover an area of more than 8,000 square miles across Wales.
Since 2011, the Welsh Government has invested almost £55m in new ambulance vehicles for the Welsh Ambulance Service.
Mr Gething said: “I am pleased to be able to announce funding of £10.23m to replace some of our ageing ambulances and other passenger transport vehicles with more modern, fuel-efficient and greener versions.
“This investment will enable the Welsh Ambulance Service to upgrade its fleet to ensure it has the most appropriate vehicles to deliver the best care for the people of Wales.”
Richard Lee, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s director of operations, said: “Our ambulances and response cars in Wales are some of the most modern and well equipped in the UK and this funding will allow us to continue to replace our vehicles and crucially the clinical equipment that they carry as they reach the end of their working life.
“Modern ambulances and equipment are essential in order that we can continue to provide the best treatment and patient experience possible. It is also key for our staff who spend the majority of their working day out and about in the community.
“We are very grateful to the Welsh Government for their continued support.”