New ambulance on its way as part of roll-out of new Mercedes vehicles

Twelve have already been delivered to stations across the region in the past two weeks as part of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust ‘s (EEAST) fleet overhaul.

It follows a massive roll-out earlier this year to ensure that by March 2015, staff will be using ambulances which are only five years old or less.

Of the 120 scheduled, Huntingdon, Halstead, Ely, Harlow, Corringham, Chelmsford and Peterborough have already received ambulances, with two going to Colchester and three to Ipswich.

Head of operations Paul Henry, who has led the fleet replacement programme, said: “I am delighted that the fleet modernisation programme continues at pace and that the next phase is now well underway.

“These new vehicles will augment the other 147 new ambulances brought into service earlier this year and make our ambulance fleet one of the newest and best quality in the country.”

The first 53 ambulances will be delivered by November and all of the 120 are Mercedes 519 Euro 6 coach-built ambulances.

Chief Executive Anthony Marsh said: “Our ageing fleet was a real concern amongst staff when I joined EEAST in January, and to have resolved this issue and have an entire fleet under five years old by March is an excellent achievement.

“I would like to thank our fleet and medical devices teams for all of their work getting these new vehicles on the road.”

Stations to gain at least one new ambulance are: Ipswich, Southend, Norwich, Welwyn Garden City, Peterborough, Colchester, Watford, Luton, Chelmsford, Letchworth, Huntingdon, Kings Lynn, Southend, Gorleston, Cambridge, Newmarket, March, Thetford, Haverhill, St Ives, Mildenhall, Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Loughton, Ongar, Basildon, Rayleigh, Billericay, Colchester, Brentwood, Braintree, South Woodham Ferrers, Waltham Abbey, Berkhamstead, Saxmundham, Witham, Saffron Waldon, Harlow, Maldon, Corringham, Wickford, Harwich, Dunmow.