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The first vehicles from a new consignment of dual-crewed ambulances are set to begin arriving at Make Ready Centres across South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) in the coming weeks.
In total, 92 new MAN Box Body Dual Crewed Ambulances (DCAs) will be added to the Trust’s fleet by the end of March. The vehicles will replace the oldest Mercedes Sprinter DCAs currently in operation, along with 34 Fiat ambulances whose leases are due to expire over the summer.
Six of the new vehicles are currently at the Lewes Commissioning Centre undergoing final preparation, according to Stewart Neve, Fleet Commissioning Manager at South East Coast Ambulance Service.
“We have six vehicles at Lewes Commissioning Centre which are about to be commissioned and start being delivered over the next couple of weeks,” he said.
At the commissioning stage, each ambulance is fully equipped and tested before deployment. Radios and Mobile Data Vehicle Systems (MDVS) are installed, CCTV remote access is set up, and a full systems check is completed before the vehicles are delivered to operational stations.
The build process involves several stages, beginning with MAN supplying chassis cab vehicles before conversion by WAS Poland, which fits the box body and builds both the vehicle and cab to the Trust’s specification, resulting in a fully converted ambulance.
The MAN Box Body design was selected following trials of four different ambulance options showcased at a roadshow that toured the Trust. A demonstrator vehicle was then taken to stations across the region, allowing frontline crews to provide feedback on equipment layout and storage before the vehicles entered production.
David Ruiz-Celada, Chief Strategy Officer at the Trust, said the investment reflected the importance of ambulances in delivering high-quality care and supporting staff wellbeing.
“Our ambulances are a key enabler to achieving high-quality care, and we should have high standards for the vehicles our clinical colleagues spend up to 12 hours a day in,” he said. “They need to be functional and responsive to drive and operate, while also providing a practical clinical workspace.”
David Ruiz-Celada.
He added that feedback from the Trust’s previous Fiat ambulance build had informed the specification of the new vehicles.
“We have taken on board the feedback from our last build and incorporated as much of it as possible into these 92 new MAN vehicles,” he said. “We look forward to hearing feedback from crews so we can make them even better for the next batch.”
The Trust expects to continue investing in fleet renewal, with a further 60 to 70 new ambulances anticipated next year as part of an ongoing programme of replacement and upgrade.
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