Škoda helps East Midlands Ambulance Service deliver fast response

The East Midlands Ambulance Service has purchased 62 Škoda Octavia Scout vehicles for its fast response fleet.

Fast response cars can get to the scene of an emergency 999 call more quickly than a conventional ambulance – enabling the ambulance crew member to start providing care immediately.

The vehicles used therefore need to be safe and reliable in all weather conditions, with adequate load capacity to enable paramedics to quickly access any apparatus needed in an emergency.

The East Midlands Ambulance Service initially invested in 20 Octavia Scout 4x4 vehicles in January 2010. The team tested several vehicles from different manufacturers, but chose to make the investment in the Scout model following overwhelmingly positive feedback from staff, says Škoda.

Steve Farnsworth, general fleet manager for East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “After our initial investment in the Octavia Scout model, we received some of the best staff feedback we’ve ever had.

“It’s so important for our paramedics to have confidence in the vehicles they use – enabling them to focus on the task at hand and respond quickly and safely to emergencies across the region.”