Exmouth: South Western Ambulance Service donates ambulances to Ukraine

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) has donated three decommissioned ambulances to the Government of Ukraine as part of the UK's package of NHS ambulance donations. 

The ambulances have now been dispatched to the Polish border, and will help replace Ukrainian ambulances lost to Russian attacks.

Each contains a stretcher, scoop stretcher, long board and carry chair.

Chief Executive Will Warrender said: "We hope that this small gesture goes some way to helping provide immediate frontline healthcare support to the many people who so desperately need it.

"The thoughts of everybody at SWASFT remain with the Ukrainian people and with our colleagues in the emergency services, who are carrying out lifesaving work in such difficult circumstances. They have our utmost respect."

Elizabeth O'Mahony, NHS England and NHS Improvement South West Regional Director, said: "Through our co-ordinated work with DHSC, the UK has already provided more than 5.29 million items of medical supplies such as wound packs, doses of morphine, and intensive care equipment, and deploying a humanitarian team to the region."

SWASFT has said that the term 'decommissioned' is used in this context as NHS ambulances are replaced every five years. All vehicles and medical supplies are reportedly checked before being sent to make sure they meet the standards required.