'Challenged' ambulance trusts to work together

Two ambulance services facing "operational and financial challenges" have agreed to collaborate to find a way to work together to drive down costs and improve patient care.

South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) and South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) will work to become more financially sustainable and help them deliver a service "capable of meeting the needs of our patients".

The two trusts provide services across Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Medway, as well as Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire.

Secamb chief executive Simon Weldon said the move, which would see the trusts still retaining their independence, would deliver "the best care possible to our patients".

Both trusts said patients were at the centre of the decision, with the aim to also "improve the work experience of our people, ensure we are more financially sustainable and help us deliver a service capable of meeting the needs of our patients, both now and in the future".

The approach, which was endorsed by the two trusts' boards, will first see the collaboration appoint a new strategic lead to work across both organisations.

The strategic lead will develop a joint case for change that will explore how the group model could work, according to the trusts.

Mr Weldon added: "As we take forward this new collaborative approach, we look forward to working with our colleagues at SCAS, forging new working relationships, sharing best practices and ultimately delivering the best care possible to our patients."

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.