Ambulance service rolls out upgraded fleet ahead of winter pressures

London Ambulance Service (LAS) is introducing 60 upgraded ambulances designed to improve patient comfort and support crews as they move and treat people during emergencies. The new lightweight Ford vehicles are being deployed across the capital in the coming weeks as part of preparations for the busy winter period.

The additions form part of a wider fleet of 460 ambulances that will be serving Londoners this winter. LAS said the vehicles were developed using feedback from frontline staff, ensuring the design meets the operational needs of crews and supports safer patient handling.

Pauline Cranmer, Chief Paramedic at LAS, said strengthening the fleet was vital as demand typically rises during the colder months. She highlighted the need for “a robust, modern fleet” built around the needs of the capital’s nine million residents.

Cranmer added that the service is prioritising the replacement of older vehicles with cleaner, more reliable models. The new ambulances are lightweight, lower-emission and digitally enabled, allowing teams to make greater use of technology during patient care.

Each vehicle is equipped with an automatic trolley bed and powered chair to assist with lifting and moving patients, reducing strain on staff and helping to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.

Paramedic Rob Mullin and Assistant Ambulance Practitioner Michael Mulryan were among the first to take the new vehicles out on duty during a morning shift from Edmonton Ambulance Station, responding to patients in Tottenham, Walthamstow and Chingford.

Mullin said the upgraded equipment enabled faster treatment while improving safety for staff and comfort for patients. During their shift, the pair attended an elderly resident who had fallen, a patient with breathing difficulties and another experiencing abdominal pain.

LAS said the upgraded ambulances will support crews in delivering high-quality care as the service prepares for increased pressures over winter.

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