NHS executives welcomed the Government's plan to buy 800 new ambulances - but warned politicians that more would be needed to ensure ambulances services can actually get the new vehicles on the road.
This comes after leaders at the under-fire North East Ambulance Service highlighted that support should tie into the Levelling Up agenda - and that it would be vital to give the NHS the resources to attract and retain its staff. Speaking at a NEAS board meeting, leading figures said that due to national supply chain issues, the service had not been physically able to order ambulances it had planned over the current financial year.
The Government's new plan for improving urgent and emergency care was announced last week by the Prime Minister during a visit to the North East. The plan, which is not backed by extra cash, will see the NHS buy 800 more ambulances, open 5,000 new hospital beds and treat thousands more patients at home via video link in so-called "virtual wards".
