The vehicles are based on Sprinter 316 CDI Medium-length vans with 3,880kg gross weights and will be used to collect patients from home and return afterwards.
The Sprinters are designed for maximum flexibility – as well as a driver each can carry up to five seated passengers, or, with seats removed, two wheelchair users in their chairs, together with an attendant and one seated passenger.
Other features include single-skin interior mouldings, featuring fewer joints and cracks in which dirt can settle helps to reduce the risk of infection, user-friendly soft-finish interior surfaces treated with an anti-bacterial agent, enhanced safety systems incorporating additional back and neck supports for wheelchair users and wide, high-capacity seats, taking account of increasing obesity levels within society.
‘Our previous patient transport vehicles were larger and had more seats,’ said Justin Wand, head of fleet operations for SECAmb.
‘But we’ve now opted for a slightly smaller, more agile and easily configured vehicle that incorporates a lot of new technology which we’re testing with a view to extending its use on front-line vehicles in the future.’
SECAmb recently won a patient transport contract from the private sector and hopes to secure similar work in the future, so its badge has also been designed into the seating upholstery and used prominently elsewhere.
The vehicles were supplied by Worthing dealer Rossetts Commercials and underwent specialist conversion by Wilker Group of Sandbach, Cheshire.
