Electric and hybrid ambulances could be responding to 999 calls soon

The Welsh Government say that more than 140 new ambulances and vehicles will be part of the first phase of a five-year Welsh Ambulance Services fleet strategy, which will see older vehicles replaced with new ambulances and vehicles fitted with the latest technology, materials, and products.

The wider strategy, which runs to 2030, includes prioritising electric and hybrid vehicles, where viable, to reduce carbon emissions and covers all vehicles operated by the Welsh Ambulance Service.

This includes the Non-emergency Patient Transport Service, which helps people attend hospital appointments and transfers patients between hospitals.

The Welsh Government says its investment of 142 new ambulances and vehicles comes as the Welsh Ambulance Service is poised to introduce improvements to the way it responds to the most serious 999 emergency calls.

The changes, which come into force in July, are designed to save more lives and improve people’s outcomes following a cardiac arrest, a serious illness, incident, or accident.

Health Secretary, Jeremy Miles said: “This investment shows our commitment to ensuring the Welsh Ambulance Service has the modern, reliable fleet it needs to deliver exceptional care for people across Wales.

“The ambulance service plays a critical role not just in emergency response, but also supporting patient flow through the wider healthcare system.

“By replacing 142 vehicles, we’re improving the resilience of our emergency response capabilities and supporting our environmental goals.”

Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Resources at the Welsh Ambulance Service, Chris Turley said: “We’re very grateful to the Welsh Government for the continual investment, which enables us to operate a modern, efficient and fit-for-purpose fleet.

“Embracing the latest technologies and innovations whilst working in partnership with staff and trade union partners is essential to provide the best possible experience for patients, as well as an ergonomically-friendly working environment for staff, who spend the majority of their working day aboard these vehicles.

“As the national ambulance service for Wales, spread over an area of 8,000 square miles, improving air quality is something we’re very committed to, so these cleaner and greener vehicles reinforce our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint in alignment with the Welsh Government’s net zero strategic plan.”

#ambulance #ElectricVehicles #EV #HybridVehicles #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust #WelshGovernent

Proposals could ‘signal the end of the traditional High Street Family Dental Practice’ warn Swansea Bay dentists

Morgannwg Local Dental Committee represents the views of dentists in NHS Dental Practice in the Swansea Bay University Health Board area, which covers Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

It has written to patients at NHS dental practices in the area to tell patients about the Welsh Government’s proposed reforms to NHS Dental Services in Wales, set to

begin in April 2026.

As part of this process, there is a public consultation period which ends on 19th

June, 2025. This provides a valuable opportunity for patients, dental professionals, and the wider community to share their views and help shape the future of NHS dental care.

Morgannwg Local Dental Committee say that while these proposed changes are intended to improve access and efficiency within the NHS dental system, there are aspects of the new contract that raise concerns among dental professionals.

The group say that proposals include no formal patient registration and that once your oral health is considered stable, you may be referred to a central Dental Access Portal until it’s time for your next check-up in 18–24 months.

It also highted limited availability at recall and that due to capacity constraints, routine preventative appointments might be extended beyond the current recommended timeframes.

As part of a rotating care model, patients may be assigned to different dental practice for your next course of treatment. While this model is aimed at increasing access, it could affect continuity of care and the opportunity to build long-term trust with a single dentist. Morgannwg Local Dental Committee say that dentists believe this could well signal the end of the hight street Family Dental Practice.

Data sharing limitations were also highlighted, with the dentists saying there are no provisions for sharing notes or x-rays between practices, which may impact continuity and personalized care.

Dentists also warned that there was no additional funding announced from Welsh Government as part of the proposals and that expanding access to new patients could lead to reduced availability for those currently receiving care. NHS treatment fees for paying patients may also increase under the new model.

Morgannwg Local Dental Committee say the proposed contract introduces new expectations for dental practices, including achieving 40% activity in the first six

months, which may be challenging for some practices.

It added that the funding structure has not been updated to reflect rising service costs, which could influence whether practices remain within the NHS or transition to private care.

There were also limitations around data sharing and patient continuity may affect how practices deliver long-term care.

A spokesperson for Morgannwg Local Dental Committee said: “The profession locally has a number of concerns about the way that the public has been informed about the consultation. 

“Colleagues have reported that the majority of their patients know nothing about the consultation. 

“We are concerned that there are parts of the proposed contract that will concern regular patients of local dental practices, in that it might well signal the end of the traditional High Street Family Dental Practice, where families are seen together. 

“It might mean that individuals may have to travel further to their dental appointments, to practices that do not have access to their past records since there is no central IT system for dental practices. 

“This is just one of many possible unintended consequences that may come if this contract is introduced as it stands.

“It is important that the public is aware of these proposed changes and respond to the consultation so that their views are taken into consideration.”

The consultation is open until 19 June 2025, with a survey online for people to record their feedback.

#Dentist #NeathPortTalbot #NHSDentist #Swansea #WelshGovernent