Private Ambulances: A Hidden Industry
Many people benefit from the range of services offered by the ambulance services. The ambulance services are not just an emergency service as many would assume, but also offer vital healthcare and transportation to those in society that need them most. With the National Health Service (NHS) stretched to capacity, however, more and more of the work the ambulance services perform is being done by fleets of private vehicles. Here we examine the role played by private ambulances, a hidden industry.
The Demand for Private Ambulances
The demand for private ambulances is on the rise and the industry is one that is competitive and lucrative. Private healthcare centres, care homes for the elderly and for the disabled make up a significant proportion of the demand for private ambulances, however the NHS also offers large contracts to companies who can help them with the shortfall in ambulance provision that they are experiencing.
The Guardian recently reported that the NHS “spends £80 million on private ambulances a year”. In the article, a spokesman for the Independent Ambulance Association (IAA) said the main reasons for a rise in private ambulance use in the last two years were “staff shortages in NHS ambulance trusts, combined with continued increases in demand”.
The benefits of using independent firms include flexibility and good value for money as “it’s cheaper for the NHS than paying overtime”, he added.
With such large contracts on offer, there is little wonder that the private ambulance industry is growing and along with it a whole host companies who support it.
Assembling a Fleet
Ambulances are sophisticated vehicles that house specialised equipment which enables the staff who run them to help users when they need help the most. Expensive medical equipment needs to be at hand to give patients both the comfort and attention they may need whilst in the vehicle.
In addition, the vehicles themselves have to be fit for purpose and this is where companies like Allied Fleet come in. Allied Fleet design and adapt vehicles for use as private ambulances and in doing so are part of a thriving industry that supports the NHS and many other healthcare providers.
And while the private ambulance industry may well still be one that is, for the most part hidden, without this burgeoning industry many people would suffer. Whether or not the issues surrounding the NHS are resolved, for the moment the demand for private ambulances is high and therefore so is the supply.
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