FACTCHECK

Today's Daily Telegraph is hyperventilating about electric ambulances

An editorial complains NHS is 'directing scarce resources towards…net-zero'

Sadly, Telegraph undermines itself by quoting NHS saying safety first, but we could save £59m with EVs

Let's dig in 1/

First, let's look at how Telegraph story is constructed

☑️juiciest quotes are anonymous
☑️balanced quote from paramedic, noting benefits but urging caution, is spun into false headline
☑️standfirst not backed by article
☑️other wild claims backed only by Tel opinion pieces

2/

Second, the editorial, which is explicitly undermined by the quote from the NHS in the article

'[I]t is also right we seek green alternatives, but only when they save the taxpayer money. The new electric ambulances…could help deliver annual operational savings of £59m.'

3/

So what is actually happening on electric ambulances?

NHS England strategy explains why it's looking at EVs, the £59m savings they could deliver to 'reinvest in patient care' & timelines for change

NB how ambulances won't all be EVs for years

4/

england.nhs.uk/wp-content/upl…

You may be shocked to discover that – contrary to the Telegraph coverage – the NHS is doing its homework on the transition to EVs, stressing the 'critical role' that ambulances play in patient safety & the 'distinct operational demands' and specs needed to ensure this

5/

As part of its plans, the NHS is – and I realise this may be shocking – piloting the use of electric ambulances & other EVs, to see how they work

6/

One of those pilots is taking place in the West Midlands

In 2021, they hoped to use electric Fiat Ducato chassis to build electric ambulances – but as they report in Jan 2023 board papers, this didn't work out

7/

wmas.nhs.uk/wp-content/upl…

Instead, West Mids is using combustion-engine ambulances retrofitted as EVs

This is expensive – not surprisingly – & board says it wldn't be viable to roll out widely

'we are approaching…reducing our carbon footprint with a high degree of due diligence and pragmatism'

8/

West Mids board report says there 'has been a great deal of scepticism' around electric ambulances but that those actually using them were 'mostly positive'

(This is all a far cry from the Telegraph reporting)

9/

As the Telegraph notes, West Mids did find issues around range in its trial electric ambulances, which would not be enough in rural settings – but the board says range was 'more than sufficient' for urban areas

10/

Now, London Ambulance Service is getting four Ford electric ambulances, which – remember the failed West Mids effort – use an electric chassis rather than retrofits

And NB this is still a pilot to collect 'real-life' data to inform a wider rollout

11/

londonambulance.nhs.uk/2024/01/12/new…