Plans to buy 60 new ambulances unveiled

Up to 60 new ambulances are to be bought over the next three years as part of a major upgrade of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), it was announced today.

At the same time, a further 60 non-emergency vehicles and 26 Rapid Response Vehicles are planned over the same period as part of a £17m (€21.5m) investment - the biggest ever in the NIAS.

The North's Health and Public Safety Minister Michael McGimpsey said the new vehicles would be used to replace older ambulances and within a decade will ensure no vehicle is more than five years old.

The announcement follows a series of recent complaints of ambulances breaking down while taking emergency patients to hospital.

The minister 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."

A further £12m (€15.2m) will be invested over the coming three years in helping the NIAS to modernise, respond more quickly to emergency calls and to help provide life saving services to patients who need it, he said.

During a visit to the Bridge Ambulance Station at Ballymacarett in east Belfast, Mr McGimpsey said: "A world-class health service needs a modern and responsive emergency service.

"For too many years, the NIAS has suffered from a lack of investment but now will benefit from a major funding boost.

"I plan to invest a further £2.5m (€3.2)m) over the next three years, which is in addition to the £14.5m (€18.36) already allocated to fleet and equipment replacement as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review."

He said he also planned to invest some £100m (€126.5m) over the next decade in fleet, estate and vital equipment such as defibrillators.

Mr McGimpsey said that just like every other health trust the NIAS had to achieve 3% efficiency savings over the next three years.

"I want to ensure that the savings they make translate into a modern and responsive service."

It was only right that front-line staff and management were provided with the necessary infrastructure to enable them to continue to deliver a quality, efficient and effective ambulance service, he said.

Ambulance chief executive Liam McIvor said he was delighted at the long-term funding commitment from the minister for regular replacement of the ambulance fleet.

"This will allow us to plan our service delivery more effectively on a firm basis over the next 10 years," he said.