Today in Sheffield I saw what appeared to be a paramedic car, but it looked like a private company car, rather than an NHS vehicle.

I think it said "ER24" (??) down the side and was kitted out with blue lights and everything.

I know there's a company of that name in South Africa who provide a private ambulance service, is that kind of thing starting over here?

Cheers

B

Yes there are private ambulance services in the uk check it out here wpas (http://www.wpas.co.uk/)

It was quite common in the 1970.s and before, for large companies to have their own vehicles.

I worked at Newton Chambers Engineering where we had both an ambulance and a fire engine.

The only Private Ambulance I have seen are used to collect bodies for the Funeral Directors. Think the days of company ambulances and fire brigades are gone.

Although there are some Private first aid and Paramedic organisations that do sporting events etc. that use them.

Yes - there's a company called UK Event Medical Services who run a Zafira around Sheffield and South Yorkshire. They provide cover to public events like football matches and galas (and marathons lol).

There is also a Mondeo that does some type of courier work for the Northern General - although it has big NHS stickers, it's not actually run by an NHS ambulance service :mad:

Hmm, interesting! Thanks all.

B

Don't the private hospitals have their own private ambulances? I saw one the other day on the M1 saying 'Private Ambulance' on the side of it, but it was all black with blacked out windows so I guess it was a funeral parlours ambulance.

Originally posted by Hels
Don't the private hospitals have their own private ambulances? I saw one the other day on the M1 saying 'Private Ambulance' on the side of it, but it was all black with blacked out windows so I guess it was a funeral parlours ambulance.

No, they do not do Accident and Emergency cover.

I read once that Huhammed Alfieda? (Mr Harrods) had a well fitted ambulance never to far from him at all times.

there is a company who are called events medical services they provide a few different types of private ambulance. they cover private events arena and football and so on. as far as i am aware they do have some paramedic trained crew also.

hope this helps

Yes there are private ambulances which cover most of the events which people attend, First Aid Medical Services based in central Sheffield cover Sheffield Speedway, Athletics events, Boxing etc. there are a number around of private ambulance companies around the country.