The Welsh Government has announced a £23.1 million investment to provide 160 new ambulances and response vehicles for the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, strengthening emergency and non‑emergency care across the country.
The new fleet will include:
- 50 emergency ambulances
- 40 single responder vehicles
- 67 Non‑Emergency Patient Transport Service vehicles
- 3 Hazardous Area Response Team vehicles
The vehicles will replace older models and meet the latest emissions standards, supporting Wales’ wider commitment to cleaner air, improved sustainability and the transition to lower‑carbon public services.
The Welsh Ambulance Service has been steadily upgrading its fleet to reduce emissions and improve environmental performance. Recent initiatives include expanding its electric vehicle charging network, introducing hybrid engines and battery electric vehicles, and adding solar panels to support energy efficiency.
The new investment builds on this progress and forms part of the Trust’s ongoing modernisation programme, aimed at providing faster, safer and more resilient care.
Alongside fleet replacement, the Welsh Ambulance Service is trialling several new technologies to enhance emergency response:
- Defibrillator drones being tested to reach patients quickly in rural communities
- Video consultations to allow clinicians to assess patients remotely
- Exploration of AI tools to support 999 call handlers and improve dispatch decision‑making
Jeremy Miles, Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, commented:
“When someone dials 999, they need to know that help is on the way. This investment ensures our ambulance service has the modern, reliable fleet it needs to be there for people across Wales.
“We're also making progress on our environmental commitments, with cleaner, greener vehicles helping to reduce carbon emissions while delivering the high-quality emergency care people expect.”
These developments aim to ensure faster, smarter care while helping staff manage increasing demand across Wales.
The new fleet will support both frontline emergency teams and non‑emergency patient transport services, helping improve reliability, reduce breakdowns and deliver a better overall experience for patients travelling to appointments, hospital care or community services.
The Welsh Ambulance Service says the investment will help maintain high standards of care, improve operational efficiency and ensure services can continue responding effectively to patients across the country.
Image credit: iStock
