As part of our celebrations for the 70th birthday of the NHS, we are rolling out specially liveried #NHS70 birthday ambulances.
Seven of our brand new emergency ambulances across the East Midlands and one Patient Transport Service Vehicle have a sticker of the NHS70 logo created by NHS England included on the side of the vehicle.
These chosen vehicles are part of 68 new vehicles that have been rolled out across the organisation since the beginning of the year, all to ensure our patients have the best care experience possible.
These vehicles with NHS70 stickers will begin their shifts from Ripley in Derbyshire, Newark in Nottinghamshire, Gorse Hill in Leicestershire, Northampton North in Northamptonshire and Boston and Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire.
Although these vehicles might begin their days from these stations, you may see them anywhere in each of the counties as our crews travel from patient to patient.
The Patient Transport Vehicle will begin and end its day at our Mickleover Ambulance Station, but the crew will be helping patients all across Derbyshire get to their routine hospital appointments so you may see it anywhere from Swadlincote to New Mills.
Steve Farnsworth, General Manager of EMAS Fleet, said he is pleased his team have been able to join in with the NHS70 celebrations with these special logos.
He said: “It is important that we mark this NHS milestone because it has come such a long way in that time – and so have the ambulances which we send to our patients.
“We wanted to mark out a few of the ambulances which we are proud to have put into service across the East Midlands this year and including the NHS70 logo as part of their livery seemed the perfect way to do this.
“Ambulances are our mobile treatment centres, and without them our crews wouldn’t be able to reach and care for people who need us. Make sure you keep an eye out for one of our special birthday ambulances whilst you’re out and about."
The 68 new vehicles are all Fiat Ducato van conversions which are replacing some of the older Movano ambulances that are approaching the end of their operational lives.
The new ambulances showcase several innovative features to assist crews when responding to patients, including additional working space, skid plates to protect the vehicle from high curbs and reinforced door hinges.
EMAS has used Fiat Ducatos since 2015, but these new additions include the Euro 6 engine which is even more fuel efficient and therefore more environmentally friendly.