Movano front-line with West Midlands Ambulance Service

Good performance by the Vauxhall Movano in a front-line accident and emergency ambulance role has led West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust to order a further 64 vehicles.

The new ambulances are currently in build and will enter into service alongside 60 Movanos already operated by the Trust since last year. Once deliveries are complete the model will make up to half of their fleet of 275 emergency ambulances.

They will operate out of all the Regional ambulance stations from which over 720,000 emergency calls are responded to each year. During their five years in service the ambulances will be worked hard with each covering at least 250,000 miles.

Following its enlargement in 2006 and again in 2007, West Midlands Ambulance Service now covers an area of 5,000 square miles encompassing five counties with a total population of 5.3 million people.

Graham Cann, Regional Head of Fleet at West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “The Vauxhall Movano performs well for us in the front-line ambulance role. It has the right specification for the job, including ample power to get to incidents quickly and transfer patients to hospital. Our crews find it a driver-friendly vehicle, which is comfortable both for them and their patients.

“Movano has also proved to be a practical vehicle, with good parts availability and which our fitters find easy to work on. It represents good value for money, which is important with today’s pressures on budgets. I’ve also been impressed by the after-sales support we receive from the fleet sales team at Vauxhall, who always respond speedily to any issues we raise.”

The model on which the ambulances are based is the Movano 3500 long wheelbase maxi roof panel van built to an ambulance vehicle specification. The specification includes air suspension on the rear axle, fully adjustable driver and passenger seats, and an electric pack. It’s also delivered to the conversion company factory-painted in Ambulance Euro Yellow.

The WMAS vehicles have the powerful 2.5 CDTi 16 valve engine for good performance in the emergency role.

Yorkshire company UV Modular is currently converting the Movanos for their ambulance role to their Cura design, which meets the CEN 1789/2007 standard. They fit side windows, all the internal fittings and lights, and an electrically powered ramp. Blue flashing emergency lights are also fitted and the addition of Battenberg striping and WMAS Trust logos leaves only the installation of equipment and a radio to make the vehicles immediately ready to enter service.