Coming soon to a station near you: new ambulances!

The rollout of the 120 new ambulances has begun, with 12 already delivered to stations across the region; meaning we are on course to have a fleet of vehicles all under five years old by the end of March.

Ambulances have been delivered to Huntingdon, Halstead, Colchester (two vehicles), Ipswich (three vehicles), Ely, Harlow, Corringham, Chelmsford and Peterborough, replacing older ones.

All new ambulances are fully kitted with brand new medical devices and consumables, excluding new model defibrillators, which are being rolled out via a separate programme.

Paul Henry, Head of Operations Support/Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer said: “I am delighted that the fleet modernisation programme continues at pace and that the next phase is now well underway. These new vehicles will augment the other 147 new ambulances brought into service earlier this year and make our ambulance fleet one of the newest and best quality in the country.”

The first 53 ambulances will be delivered by November and all of the 120 are Mercedes 519 Euro 6 coach-built ambulances.

Chief Executive Anthony Marsh said: “Our ageing fleet was a real concern amongst staff when I joined EEAST in January, and to have resolved this issue and have an entire fleet under five years old by March next year will be an excellent achievement. I would like to thank our fleet and medical devices teams for all of their work getting these new vehicles on the road.”

Stations receiving a new ambulance (some receiving multiple ambulances): Ipswich, Southend, Norwich, Welwyn Garden City, Peterborough, Colchester, Watford, Luton, Chelmsford, Letchworth, Huntingdon, Kings Lynn, Southend, Gorleston, Cambridge, Newmarket, March, Thetford, Haverhill, St Ives, Mildenhall, Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Loughton, Ongar, Basildon, Rayleigh, Billericay, Colchester, Brentwood, Braintree, South Woodham Ferrers, Waltham Abbey, Berkhamstead, Saxmundham, Witham, Saffron Waldon, Harlow, Maldon, Corringham, Wickford, Harwich, Dunmow.

Published 9th October 2014