The Red Cross offers regular support to ambulance services in the UK. We operate under a Royal Charter as an auxiliary to the public services, and a key aspect of our work involves providing support to NHS ambulance services across the country.
The Red Cross has an extensive fleet of ambulance vehicles and crews and these are used regularly to support NHS ambulance services across the UK, during both routine work and major incidents. The Red Cross also has the capability to draw on assistance from colleagues in other areas and, when needed, from our international partners.
How the Red Cross can help
- Ambulance support can include provision of suitable vehicles and crews during surge demand, predicted peak periods or adverse weather situations.
- Assistance can range from patient transport work to out of hours hospital discharges, doctors’ urgent calls and higher acuity work.
- Our ambulance support work in England is regulated by the Care Quality Commission, and the same standards are being rolled out internally across the UK.
- The Red Cross has a comprehensive vehicle fleet with extensive 4WD capability, modern ambulances and Airwave communications.
- Innovative collaborative projects have included call-centre assistance, post-paramedic home visit sitting services, city centre initiatives and ambulance reserve work.
- Routine collaborative working will greatly assist joint working during major incidents leading to better patient outcomes.
Many key ambulance services are already enjoying the benefits of joint working with the Red Cross. If you would like to learn more about how we could support you, please contact us at ambulancesupport@redcross.org.uk
Learn more about our work with category one responders