Training costs saved by ambulance trust

THOUSANDS of pounds are to be saved by East Anglian Ambulance Trust which is now able to carry out its own emergency driver training.Around £75,000 a year will now be saved, which would normally have been paid to outside training instructors.

By Jessica Nicholls

THOUSANDS of pounds are to be saved by East Anglian Ambulance Trust which is now able to carry out its own emergency driver training.

Around £75,000 a year will now be saved, which would normally have been paid to outside training instructors.

Previously drivers would have been sent on special courses for the training but now the Trust has received accreditation to train their own.

Simon Butler, Head of Education & Training, said the course had been designed to meet the driving needs and safety issues of the area.

He said: "It's focussed specifically on emergency and Patient Transport Services ambulance driving, and we're delighted to have received accreditation.

"On the course itself, driver training will take place throughout East Anglia and may go nationwide for specific driving conditions such as hills etc."

Courses have to be signed off by the Institute of Health and Care Development on behalf of the Ambulance Service Association.

The Trust now carries out all of its emergency medical technician and paramedic training in-house, and has ten nationally qualified emergency driving instructors.