Rethinking the ambulance

Given the astonishing pace of medical technology innovation, you would be forgiven for thinking that the modern ambulance must surely be a slick box of tricks on wheels.

But from a design point of view, the ambulance has changed very little in the past 30 years or so. In fact, the basic concept of ’swoop and scoop’ to hospital that is still largely in place dates back even further – despite changing healthcare paradigms.

The figures are telling. In 2009-10, ambulance crews dealt with 7.87 million emergency calls – yet around 40 per cent did not require treatment in an A&E hospital.

The skills of ambulance staff and paramedics have evolved markedly, as has the technology potentially available to them, but their ambulances have failed to keep up. The problems are numerous but include hygiene and infection control, patient experience and digital communications.

The NHS has recognised the need for change since the 2000s, yet progress has been slow, with some conceptual projects funded but nothing concrete achieved.