WEST Midlands Ambulance Service Trust (WMAS) is set to get an extra 23 vehicles.
The trust said it was set to benefit from a multi-million pound investment which would see the number of ambulances on the frontline rise by five per cent, helping crews reach patients faster and deliver life-saving care when it matters most.
The additional funding, from the Department of Health and Social Care, will see the trust’s frontline fleet rise by 23 to 500 vehicles, in total.
In addition to the diesel ambulances, the trust will also receive eight fully electric ambulances by the end of March.
The expansion forms part of a wider investment that will see 142 vehicles added to the fleet by the end of March.
Of those, 87 have already been delivered and are supporting communities across the West Midlands.
Chief executive officer, Anthony Marsh, said: “This investment means more ambulances on the road, more capacity for our crews and faster help for patients when they need us most.
“Every vehicle plays a part in saving lives, and increasing our fleet strengthens our ability to respond to emergencies across the West Midlands.
“We’re also proud to continue investing in modern and electric vehicles, supporting both our staff and our commitment to a greener NHS.”
Alongside increasing capacity, the investment also supports WMAS’ commitment to sustainability. the service operates one of the most modern ambulance fleets in the UK.
The additional vehicles support the trust’s long-standing five-year replacement cycle for frontline ambulances, helping crews have access to reliable, modern vehicles equipped to provide high-quality patient care.
WMAS was the first ambulance service in the country to trial electric ambulances, in 2020.
The trust is just one of several set to benefit from a new fleet of more than 500 ambulances nationally.
The government says the vehicles – replacing old ambulances across England – represent one of the biggest upgrades to the NHS fleet in recent years and have been rolled out to every region of England, helping emergency services respond faster and more reliably through winter.
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: “In an emergency, every minute matters.
“When someone dials 999, they should get help fast – not be left waiting because of creaking kit or preventable delays.
“These new ambulances are already helping to cut response times and keep more vehicles on the road, just as the NHS is facing a tidal wave of ’flu and the ongoing disruption of strikes.
“I want to thank NHS staff for their extraordinary dedication this winter.
“They are going above and beyond for patients, often in incredibly tough conditions, and this government is backing them with the modern equipment they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.
“Modernising our ambulance fleet means better care for patients and stronger emergency services – while backing British jobs and driving economic growth.”
