Anguilla has received two ambulances from the West Midlands Ambulance Service in the UK to help strengthen its emergency response services.
The specialist vehicles contain features such as four wheel drive, a tail-lift for wheelchair access and a hydraulic stretcher, according to a statement from the government on 14 April.
They are also fuel-efficient and compact, equipped with onboard video monitors and advanced medical technology to assess and monitor patients en route to hospital.
“The new ambulances were urgently needed as the existing fleet was ageing, deteriorating and becoming increasingly unreliable,” the press release said.
“Prior to receiving these ambulances, Anguilla had only three ambulances dating back to 2006, 2007 and 2019 with one vehicle already exceeding 150,000 miles.
“The new additions greatly enhance reliability and emergency response capacity.”
The West Midlands Ambulance Service will assist with further training for Anguilla’s EMS staff later in the year.
Official handover
The ambulances were transported from the UK to Anguilla with assistance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
On Friday, 11 April, Governor Julia Crouch officially handed over the keys to the vehicles in a ceremony.
During the event, health minister Cardigan Connor told attendees that the ambulances are “more than just modes of transport”.
“They are vital lifelines that will help save lives and bring care to those who need it most.
“They will strengthen our emergency response services and reinforce the commitment we’ve made to ensuring quality healthcare is accessible to all even in the most urgent of moments.”
Following the handover, Malcolm Webster, director of facilities at the Department of Health Services, and Steven McDowall, head of Anguilla’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS), led a tour.
The initiative to began in May 2022 with an assessment led by Webster.
According to a Facebook post from the Anguilla Progressive Movement political party, the ambulances were then pledged in 2023 following a request from former premier Ellis Webster.
The Government of Bermuda donated two more ambulances to Anguilla in 2024, which have been shipped and are expected to arrive on the island shortly, the post added.
