Blog One : Ambulance Companies

Ambulance Companies

Hailed as ‘another triumph of public-private partnership’, it was announced that NHS ambulance services are to be outsourced to a joint venture initiative between Arriva Bus and NextDay Couriers. Under the new 999ArrivaNextDay service, members of the public requiring hospitalisation will either be picked up from a bus stop or, if unable to make that journey due to their injuries, be collected by courier during the ‘Morning’ (8am to 1pm) or ‘Afternoon’ (1pm to 6pm) for next day delivery. The announcement of the plans was met with outrage from consumer groups, as it became clear that rather than invest in additional resources, 999ArrivaNextDay is to use spare capacity in their existing schedules to provide emergency services, but the two companies were quick to allay public concerns and insisted their normal transport and parcel delivery activities would not be adversely affected. 999ArrivaNextDay also insisted they would be fully prepared to deal with the new demands of providing ‘world-class paramedic response’, with priority seating provided on-board and a ‘comprehensive’ first aid kit fitted at all bus stops.