Following an Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) Extraordinary General Meeting on Monday 29th March, the AACE Full members (currently all of the English regional Ambulance Services) voted unanimously to approve the application from the Welsh Ambulance Service to become full members from April 1st 2021.
AACE Managing Director Martin Flaherty OBE, QAM warmly welcomed the decision saying:
The Welsh Ambulance Service has always played an active part in AACE as an associate member but was not able to vote alongside full members on important topics such as the strategic direction of AACE and other areas where the sector was striving for a unanimous stance on particular issues.
So I am delighted that Wales will now take its rightful place at the top table by becoming full members from 1st April 2021, allowing it to consolidate and enhance its contribution to the UK ambulance sector while continuing to play an ever increasing role in influencing the sector and improving the delivery of ambulance services across the UK for the benefit of patients and staff.
Jason Killens, Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said:
We welcome the news that the Welsh Ambulance Service is to become a full member of AACE, which will allow us to bolster existing relationships with our partners, shape and influence national work programmes, and share knowledge and skills to better meet the emerging challenges and opportunities facing all ambulance services.
We look forward to making the fullest contribution to the Association.
