The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) had a busy year during 2015-16, as ambulance services across the UK faced unprecedented challenges in terms of demand, funding and expectations from strategic stakeholders and the public alike.
Despite these testing times, our members have continued to work together to push forward in making improvements that will benefit patients, better support staff and realise efficiencies within the wider health system in the long run.
With a small central team focusing on strategic priorities, AACE remains dedicated to facilitating continual improvement in the ambulance sector by providing the best possible support for all of our members, while representing them at national and governmental level.
Provision of consultancy advice to individual services continued to increase in 2015-16 generating much needed funds to enable us to expand our range of activities on behalf of members and remain financially viable.
Our membership was maintained throughout the year, although we bade farewell to two of our Chief Executives: Sue Noyes and Bob Williams; and three Chairs: Della Cannings QPM, Richard Hunt CBE and Tony Thorne – we are grateful for their support and input throughout their time as members of AACE, particularly to Della who Chaired the AACE Council and the Chairs group and was a member of the AACE Board for several years.
We welcomed one new CEO in 15-16: Robert Morton, as Anthony Marsh QAM stepped down from his interim CEO role in the East of England.
Our strategic priorities set by the AACE Council for 2015-16 focused on:
i) The Ambulance Service Vision – 2020 & beyond
ii) Workforce, education & development
iii) Operating model and efficiency
iv) Clinical care and patient safety.
