Stanford’s latest conversion in the public limelight
The latest vehicle to be converted for Thames Ambulance Service by Essex based coach conversion and mobility specialist, Stanford Coachworks, has been a star in its own right.
The Fiat Ducato L3 H2, 3 litre 160 dci turbo was commissioned by the Bariatric division, the branch of medicine concerned with obese patients and was delivered this Tuesday.
The conversion process at Stanford has been filmed by a television company and will be aired in the New Year as part of a 6 week Channel 5 series following numerous bariatric services including Thames Ambulance Service, their staff and their patients.
The 6 part series developed from the success of “Supersized Ambulance” an earlier one-off BBC1 programme which featured the Thames Ambulance Service bariatric division. The programme highlighted the not so obvious issue of moving the super-obese to and from the hospital bed which has become both a traumatic challenge for patients and a possible danger for medical staff. The bariatric ambulances are able to mobilise people who weigh up to 70 Stone.
“We have supplied over 50 ambulance conversions to Thames and this is our fourth bariatric vehicle,” explains Jess Rider, Co-Director for Stanford Coachworks.
“We were amazed to have the opportunity for our work to be filmed and featured on national television.
“Everyone was a little camera shy at first but you could see the individual characters developing throughout the 8 weeks of footage and to be honest, we were sorry to see the camera girls leave!”
The ambulance is an automatic with glazed rear doors, single adjustable passenger seat, rear view camera, Eberspacer air conditioning and has been repainted in a RAL 1016 colour scheme with front bumpers and mouldings.
The interior is fully wipe-able for infection prevention control purposes with an 18mm WPB ply floor with non-slip blue lino, roller blinds, LED lighting throughout and a D2 diesel heater.
Two single 425mm Pheonix tip and fold seats with age belts and one Pheonix tip up seat are fitted inside the vehicle, all with isle side support armrests. Full length centre floor tracking allow for secure wheelchair provision. A reinforced vehicle tail-lift and heavy duty wheelchairs ease the strain on ambulance and hospital support workers and improve the comfort for the patient.
Emergency and safety equipment include piped oxygen store and outlet, Ferno Harrier XL stretcher with extendible sides, two fire extinguishers, one PSV first aid kit, a 1 ton winch, storage for scoop board, carry chair and spinal board, 12 volt incubator sockets, multiple grab handles and storage compartments.
The vehicle was also fitted with 2 full width light bars, alternating headlights, grill lights, wing lights and siren.
Stanford has provided a 3 year guarantee on spare parts and labour in respect of the conversion work and are extremely proud of the vehicle.
“Over the 8 years we have been providing specialist bariatric transport, Stanford Coach Works have been our converter of choice”, says Rob Ashford, Chief Executive Officer of The Thames Group.
“The nature of the work requires very specific vehicle design and equipment which Stanford has always produced to a high quality.
“Stanford have always worked closely with our in house bariatric division to ensure the vehicles provided are developed to meet the changing needs in this area of service delivery.
“Yet again Stanford has produced a high quality fit for purpose vehicle to help us continue to provide the high quality service our patients are used to.”
Ambulance conversions are a fast growing market place for Stanford and they are already nationally known for their welfare and wheelchair accessible minibuses. In addition, their extensive portfolio includes high end luxury mini-coaches, school buses, charity minibuses and a new vehicle improvement programme, VIP, for older minibuses.
