Patients across South Devon are now being transported to and from hospital appointments in safety, style and comfort thanks to a new fleet of state of the art vehicles.

Torbay Hospital’s Patient Transport Service worked closely with Wilker UK of Sandbach, Cheshire, to ensure that improved comfort and safety for both patients and staff featured highly on the design and build of the Renault Masters vehicles, supplied through Lex Autolease.

The new vehicles can accommodate up to two wheelchairs, four seated patients and a stretcher, making the vehicles very versatile and adaptable. They are packed with some of the most up to date safety equipment such as rear impact protection seats providing back and headrest support for wheelchair users, and slightly larger stretchers which have many comfort and safety features, allowing patients to be transported in the safest way possible and making them easier for staff to manoeuvre.

Each vehicle has a wheelchair head rest which can be fitted to the floor behind the wheelchair to prevent any whiplash injury should the vehicle be unfortunate enough to become involved in an accident. They are also equipped with defibrillators, satellite navigation and data transmitting systems.

One of the new ambulances is equipped for bariatric patients and all vehicles are fitted with winches, to improve staff safety, and Pat Slides to aid transfer of patients from stretcher to chair.

As well as offering comfort and safety features, the Renault Master engine features lower fuel consumption and greater economy, particularly when it comes to maintenance costs.

Whilst most patients are able to travel to and from hospital appointments either by public transport or by using private transport, South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides patient transport vehicles for those patients who are considered to be medically unfit to travel by public or private transport.

Patients also have access to the Hospital Car Service, a chargeable service available for patients who are unable to use public transport and do not have access to private transport but are able to get in and out of a saloon car with the assistance of only one person.

Trust Transport Services Manager, Mike Andrews said “I am delighted with these new vehicles. They demonstrate the Trust’s commitment to providing the best possible care for our patients.

“Our fleet of patient transport vehicles are at the cutting edge of design, and working in conjunction with Wilker UK, we have managed to ensure our new vehicles have the safety and comfort of both our patients and staff at the forefront”.