The Association of Ambulance Service Chief Executives (AACE) has called for a more streamlined approach to ambulance service commissioning to reduce regional variation and ensure that patients get the same level of high-quality equitable care no matter where they live.
AACE believes this is currently being impeded by different regional approaches to commissioning with some areas prioritising the achievement of financial balance while others prioritise delivery against statutory clinical standards.
Anna Parry, Managing Director of AACE said:
The standard of NHS care received by patients should not be affected by where people live. Currently, there is variation in the way in which core 999 ambulance services are commissioned across the country, which adversely affects delivery of equitable emergency and urgent care to patients nationally.
This is why ambulance leaders are calling for a consistent approach to the commissioning of ambulance services in England in the context of next year’s planning guidance and the development of the NHS 10-year plan.
Accepting and understanding the rationale for local decisions about commissioning of some elements of ambulance service provision by integrated care boards, a standardised approach to commissioning of core 999 services is imperative if improvements in quality, access to and equity of patient care are to be delivered. AACE is advocating for this principle to be front and centre of the commissioning of ambulance services in the coming financial year, and in the future.
