Audio

Ambulance services: the canary in the coalmine for NHS pressures

Impact of 10-year health & UEC plans on ambulance services with Anna Parry, Simon Weldon & John Martin. Sarah Walter on the model region blueprint.

3 September 2025

In this episode of Health on the Line, we dive deep into the challenges and future of the ambulance sector, often described as the ‘canary in the coalmine’ for NHS pressures.  

Host Matthew Taylor is joined by three leading voices in the field: 

  • Anna Parry, managing director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives  
  • Simon Weldon, chief executive of South East Coast Ambulance Service 
  • Dr John Martin, chief executive of South Western Ambulance Service 

Together, they explore the implications of the NHS's 10 Year Health Plan and the Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Plan for ambulance services. From digital integration and neighbourhood health to the evolving role of paramedics, this conversation highlights both the ambition and the complexity of transforming urgent care while "flying the plane" of daily service delivery. 

We also hear from Sarah Walter, director of the ICS Network at the NHS Confederation, to discuss the model region blueprint, a document that will set out how the English regions will be managed in the future and what that means for integrated care boards and providers alike.  

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Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus

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Health on the Line

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