Press release: NHS Confederation welcomes new Ambulance Service Network
18 Jan 2008
The Ambulance Service Association has merged with the NHS Confederation and now forms a new Ambulance Service Network, representing all ambulance service trusts.
The NHS Confederation represents over 95 per cent of NHS organisations, and provides a strong independent voice for NHS leadership to help improve patient health and care. Now part of the NHS Confederation, the Ambulance Trust Network has appointed its board and is currently recruiting a permanent network director.
The merger will enable the ambulance service to work more closely with other parts of the NHS, and provide further support for ambulance leaders. The Confederation will continue the previous work of the Ambulance Service Association, particularly in networking and sharing best practice. AMBEX is the foremost pre-hospital and emergency healthcare forum in the UK, and this year will take place in Harrogate International Centre on Tuesday 24 June 08 - Thursday 26 June 08, organised by the new network.
The Conference Leading the Way in Emergency and Urgent Care will explore operational, clinical and workforce issues and the role played by UK ambulance services in the leading edge of urgent care, and the exhibition is the largest of its kind outside of the USA.
The new network will work closely with its members to develop the role of commissioning and the move towards foundation status, to better provide care in local communities through strengthened governance and increased autonomy. Clinical issues, the call connect target and promoting excellence in employment will also be top priorities.
The NHS Confederation also supports member networks for a range of organisations that make up the modern health service - primary care trusts, foundation trusts, and mental health and independent sector providers of NHS care.
Gill Morgan, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, commented:
"We believe that the voice of NHS leadership is strongest when we are able to represent both the collective view of the NHS and the distinct views of parts of the NHS. The new Ambulance Service Network will develop a strong and independent voice for the ambulance sector, and will also work alongside our other networks on issues that affect the whole NHS."
More information on the new Ambulance Service Network
ENDS
Notes for editors
1. The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
2. An interim director of the Ambulance Service Network has been appointed
Contact details
Contact Niall Smith 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309, Ruth Kennedy 020 7074 3312 or 07884 47 3086, or Ruby Casey-Knight 020 7074 3306 or 07881 957305. For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.
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