North East Ambulance Service awarded new £15million contract
The North East Ambulance Service has been awarded a new contract.
A new £15million-per-year contract will see the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) continue to deliver NHS 111 services across the North East of England.
Throughout 2024/25, NEAS responded to more than one million callers to 111, as it continued to provide ambulance services to County Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and the boroughs of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees.
Kevin Scollay, Chief Executive at North East Ambulance Service, has highlighted that the contract will build on the years of experience that NEAS already has running the 111 service.
He said: "Our dedicated staff are experts in handling urgent and emergency calls.
“This new contract builds on our years of experience running NHS 111 and ensures patients will continue to receive a high standard of service without disruption.
“Because we also deliver the 999 ambulance service, patients benefit from a seamless link between urgent and emergency care, with quicker decisions and faster access to the right help.
“The contract also allows us to invest further in services such as care by text or video, and to increase the number of patients treated over the phone or referred safely to non-emergency services.”
The contract means that patients will continue to benefit from timely access to a multidisciplinary team of professionals within the clinical assessment service and increased use of alternative care pathways.
Liam Charles, a health advisor at NEAS, joined the service four years ago and he is now looking forward to continuing to provide the 111 service for the next five years.
He commented: “I joined as a Health Advisor in 2021 after being furloughed during lockdown, looking for a new challenge where I could make a difference.
“From taking 111 and 999 calls to coaching new advisors and supporting colleagues on the internal line, I’ve grown so much in this role.
“Every day is different, and it’s incredibly fulfilling to know we help patients access the right care, ease pressure on frontline services, and contribute to the wider NHS.
“I’m proud to be part of a service that’s making such a positive impact — and even prouder that we’ve secured the contract for another five years.”