New order for emergency ambulances

As I announced in my message last week, we have now placed the order for 120 new emergency ambulances, which means that the Trust will have no emergency ambulance or response car over five years old by this time next year.

This was a target I set as soon as I arrived at EEAST so I am very pleased that we will get to this position so soon.

The 120 new ambulances will replace old ambulances and will be the coach-based style Mercedes Benz ambulances.

The current replacement programme of emergency ambulances and Skoda Scout response cars is progressing as planned, with 81 new ambulances and 31 new response cars, as well as the additional 27 ambulances on the road. This upgrade programme will be delivered as per the plan by the end of June 2014.

As you know, accelerating the fleet replacement programme is one of my priorities in the performance improvement action plan, which is updated regularly with the progress we are making across the Trust.

Dr Anthony Marsh Chief Executive