NHS hopes fleet of electric vehicles will relieve pressure on overstretched ambulance service
- Eight ambulance trusts are trialling 21 zero-emission vehicles in the new move
- Dedicated mental health callouts to have different design to put patients at ease
- Part of £2.1million investment as NHS moves towards reaching net zero by 2040
The NHS is bringing in a fleet of electric vehicles to relieve pressure on ambulances.
Eight ambulance trusts are trialling 21 zero-emission vehicles, with six dedicated to responding to mental health callouts.
The mental health vehicles will differ in design to traditional ambulances, with fewer fluorescent markings and a much less clinical interior to put patients at ease.
The NHS is bringing in a fleet of electric vehicles to relieve pressure on ambulances. Pictured: Zero-emission vehicles launched by West Midlands Ambulance Service in 2020
Other green fleet vehicles include those to take patients to high dependency units.
It is part of a £2.1million investment as the NHS moves towards reaching net zero by 2040.
James Cook, director of primary and community care improvement at NHS England, said: ‘These vehicles will change the way we deliver care in the community – helping us see more patients whilst reducing demand on traditional double-crewed ambulances [and] the NHS meet its green ambitions.’