The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) has rejected proposals for a new commissioning model for awarding NHS ambulance contracts contained in an Independent Ambulance Association (IAA) report published on Tuesday 12 November 2013 entitled, ‘The Vital Link’.
AACE Managing Director Martin Flaherty OBE, said: “We do not agree with the IAA’s proposals for changes to commissioning models and in particular any view that the current arrangements for commissioning regional blocks of Emergency Ambulance provision should be changed to allow for smaller blocks and to allow the private sector to bid for core 999 activity.
“We are firmly of the view that the provision of core 999 emergency service work should remain within the NHS and should continue to be commissioned regionally from the NHS Ambulance Sector. To change this would be disruptive for patients and has the real potential to lead to an overall reduction in the standards of care being provided for patients coupled with a massive and unnecessary increase in the complexity of the delivery.
“There are ample systems in place now which offer opportunities for the private ambulance sector and allow local commissioners – and indeed NHS Ambulance Trusts – to contract with the private sector to provide various services.
“However, we would add that some parts of the report make for more comforting reading and we believe they raise some valid issues that will stimulate debate. For example it is extremely positive to hear that the IAA is calling for the closure of the loophole in the law which enables unregistered companies to provide ambulance cover at public events, and also that it is requesting that the DVLA tightens up the system which enables unregistered ambulance companies to unfairly claim exemption from vehicle excise duty. These can only be good things in terms of public safety and propriety.”
The AACE continues to have dialogue with the IAA on matters of mutual importance and meets quarterly.
