The two main organisations representing NHS and independent ambulance services in England have agreed to work together to ensure the highest quality patient services, it was announced today (5th April 2013).
In a joint statement, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), which co-ordinates and implements nationally agreed strategy and policy on behalf of the 10 NHS ambulance trusts in England and the Independent Ambulance Association (IAA), the leading trade association for private companies regulated by the Care Quality Commission, said:
“In recent years NHS ambulance trusts have worked with independent ambulance providers to support their accident & emergency needs during periods of peak demand and at the same time the companies have provided a wide range of non emergency transport services, including hospital transfers of renal, bariatric and high dependency patients.
“Now, after some constructive discussions both organisations have agreed that the issues they face to provide the best outcomes for patients are very similar and that it is now timely, against the background of the NHS reforms, to build on the existing relationship.
“This will entail putting in place a regular forum at which representatives of AACE and the IAA will meet to share information and deal with issues which impact on the patient experience. There is also recognition that there might be occasions when joint approaches to Government and the regulators may be the most effective strategy to express concerns on policy and related patient transport issues.
“We are moving forward with shared optimism and a sole commitment to ensure that the only results of our joint initiatives will be enhanced patient outcomes.”
NOTE
AACE supports, coordinates and implements nationally agreed policy on behalf of the NHS Ambulance Trusts in England.
The IAA was founded in January 2012 as a not for profit representative organisation and has a current membership of 50 companies registered by the Care Quality Commission.
