More than £10 million is to be spent on new ambulances and patient transport, the Welsh Government has announced.
The money will be spent replacing around 100 vehicles. The fleet, to be deployed across Wales, includes 25 new ambulances, 33 emergency response motorcycles, 33 non-emergency passenger transport vehicles and nine specialist emergency vehicles for major incidents.
Welsh Health Secretary Vaughan 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.”
Since 2011, the Welsh Government has invested almost £55m in new ambulance vehicles for the Welsh Ambulance Service.
The Welsh Ambulance Service currently has over 700 vehicles in its fleet, which cover an area of more than 8,000 square miles across Wales.