Green Light For New 999 Ambulances

Up to 60 new A&E ambulances - and a further 60 non-emergency vehicles and 26 Rapid Response Vehicles - will be purchased as part of a major £17 million capital investment in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) - but not before time if critics are correct.

NI Public Safety Minister, Michael McGimpsey said today that the new vehicles will be used to replace older ambulances and thanks to a multi-million investment over the next 10 years, will allow the ambulance service to move to a running replacement programme which will, in time, ensure no vehicle will be more than five years old.

Claims that 'second-hand ambulances' were falling apart and news that one in three ambulances currently breach guidelines because they are too old have in part led to the move, announced today on a visit to the Bridge Ambulance Station in Ballymacarett, East Belfast by Mr McGimpsey.

He said: "I am aware of recent concerns over the age and condition of the NIAS fleet.

"This is without doubt the largest investment in the history of the NIAS. It will help ensure that the public has confidence in the emergency services and, in particular, that ambulance crews are able to carry out their life-saving working in vehicles which are roadworthy, reliable and modern," he said, noting that a further £12 million revenue funding will be allocated over the next three years to help the NIAS modernise, to respond more quickly to emergency calls and help provide life saving services to patients who need it.

Welcoming the investment NIAS Chief Executive Liam McIvor, Chief Executive said: "I am delighted at the long term funding commitment the Minister has announced today for the regular replacement of the ambulance fleet, improving the ambulance estate and ensuring that as a service we have the necessary life saving equipment and technology."

As well as more recent trade union claims that 'bits were falling off second-hand ambulances', a politician hit out at the existing 999 fleet earlier this year.

South Down MLA Jim Wells said in May that one in three ambulances in Northern Ireland breach guidelines because they are too old.

He was quoting from shock figures obtained from the Department of Health itself which he said was not acceptable: "This raises serious questions about the capacity of our ambulance fleet to respond to emergencies such as road accidents or house fires in a satisfactory and speedy manner."

Guidelines from an ambulance advisory group stipulate vehicles should be replaced when they are more than five-years-old.

However, the figures he obtained show that 12 ambulances have been on Northern Ireland's roads for nine years.

He also said that Newry, Newcastle, Carrickfergus, Larne, Ballymena, Ballycastle, Limavady, Dungannon and Enniskillen all have a 999 ambulance which has more than 200,000 miles on the clock.

See: Aged Ambulances Slammed While Maternity Suffering Too

(BMcC)