S59 JJR is a Ford Transit ambulance with a larger back on it. You can see the bright livery from the front and note the odd place for the repeater blue lights which are normally mounted on the grille.
A closer look
W706 PFT an ambulance service vehicle. It looks like any other metallic green Ford Focus, but place the rotating beacon on the roof, put the flashing light on the dashboard and turn the siren on and you have an emergency vehicle! The NEAS run many of these vehicles, all lease cars, which are replaced every three years. The dashboard-mounted and magnetic roof lights are used to avoid cutting holes in the car which the next owner may not appreciate. Hand-held radios are used to avoid aerial holes too.
An alternative view
Here are 3 views of one of a fleet of a Mercedes ambulance X286 BVN introduced in 2001. The rear view clearly shows the much increased space from previous models.
The front view
An alternative front view
M775 KCU is a Renault 19, used by NEAS with its range of blue lights flashing. These vehicles were used prior to the arrival of the Focus above.
N638 GFA is Ford Escort dedicated to quick response calls.
We start with a West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (WYMAS) VW Collet R231 DFC. West Yorks used to have the distinctive livery of a ‘heartbeat’ down the side of all their emergency vehicles. Notice the orange rotating beacon on the roof which means that it must be based near an airport. This will be used to comply with the Civil Aviation Authority rule that all vehicles on airport taxiways must show an orange flashing light.
The front view
Here is a picture donated by a viewer of vehicles from the British Red Cross County Durham and Teesside branch.
A photograph of two Northumbria Ambulance Service (now part of NEAS) Honda Pan-European emergency paramedic motorbikes and a Landrover Discovery J466 HVK.
Here is a photo of an ambulance built by Crestline Coach Ltd. of Saskatoon, Canada.
H945 UHH is a picture of a Ford Transit ‘RA6’ which belongs to the Red Cross.
This model shows the colour scheme of London Ambulance Service vehicles
M455 NVP is a LDV ambulance photographed at York race course
The side view
The rear view
Here we have a look through the rear window of a St. John Land Rover Discovery ambulance J536 VAJ. Note the stretcher on the left, equipment stored on the right and radio in the front.
H640 OPY is another St. John ambulance with a brighter livery! Inset: the front view.
K23 MRH is a Land Rover Discovery ambulance. One of its uses is towing trailers of equipment or exhibitions.
S877 BUA is a Ford Escort ambulance car run by TENYAS.
An ambulance is quickly on the scene at a horse racing accident at York. The horse decided to go straight on at a corner, damaging the fencing and throwing the jockey to the ground. This photo was taken less than one minute after the fall, which was watched live on Channel 4 Racing and satellite’s The Racing Channel on 16 June 2001.
Later, the jockey is transferred to another emergency ambulance which takes him to hospital. The first ambulance can then resume its role of following the horses as they race. Here, the Mercedes Sprinter ambulance S772 VAT leaves the racecourse
W695 MRA Here are a number of photographs of a Mercedes-Benz A Class quick response ambulance car. The North East Ambulance Service started to use these cars in the late 1990s to complement motorcycles already in use. Notice the large data terminal for dispatch information next to the driver and the conspicuous colour scheme! They are good for around town driving, but not so good on high-speed runs. Fingers crossed it stays upright!
The front view from a different angle
The rear view
The side view
A look at the top of the vehicle
The inside of the car
Here is a Quick Response Unit ambulance. Based at Kitty Brewster Industrial Estate, Blyth, with the North East Air Ambulance. There is no hospital there, just the helipad and hanger.
Above is a 1993 K-reg Mercedes ambulance. It used to belong to Durham Ambulance Service, but had the wording changed in 1999 when the Durham was merged with other counties to form the North East Ambulance ‘supertrust’.
N409 ORG is a vehicle based on the Ford Transit.
L659 AVK This is a Renault Clio used for vehicle maintenance purposes.
This is the rear view of a NEAS Control Unit.
A close-up of the front of the control unit, showing the unusual green rotating light.
Below is a 1994 Ford Fiesta Van, M279 XWF, which is used by the North Yorkshire Ambulance Service for Training.
J344 UDU is a Land Rover ambulance, spotted at St. John’s Chapel, Weardale station in April 2000. The area it covers is hilly and rugged
Next is a Staffordhire Ambulance Mk 3 Fiat Ducato, callsign Trojan 380,
J718 DAB is an “Ambuline” Renault Espace people carrier.
K675 AAJ is a Mercedes ambulance from the Cleveland fleet. The ‘K’ registration indicates it was introduced in 1992-3.
S878 BUA is a Humberside Ford Escort paramedic unit. This will not be used for transporting patients, but for moving personnel and assisting at serious accidents.
This is a Peugeot which at first sight looks like a regular vehicle, but on closer inspection it has blue strobe lights mounted on the grille. It is used by the ambulance service and probably also has a detachable magnetic blue rotating light for the roof.