BBC DEVON

The 24/7 operation to keep South West ambulances on the road

Jen Smith December 16, 2025

Jen SmithSouth West health correspondent

BBC Three ambulances are being worked on inside a depot. Two are on hydraulics, with the middle ambulance lifted into the air. The rear doors are closed on the third ambulance. — The vehicle preparation unit in Exeter is the biggest in the South West – serving 16 ambulances twice a day

A depot off the M5 near Exeter is home to the South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust’s (SWASFT) largest vehicle preparation unit.

There are 13 of these sites across the greater south west – from Penzance to Gloucester.

At this site alone, 16 ambulances are prepared, twice a day, to be ready for their next tasking.

Between them, a team of 14 people work all hours of the day, 365 days a year to prepare ambulances and alleviate pressure on paramedics.

Hayley Cook is a Senior Vehicle Preparation Operative and has been part of the unit since its inception in 2022

A blonde woman in a blue South Western Ambulance Service fleece smiles into the camera. She is standing in front of two ambulances in the winter sun. — Hayley Cook is a Senior Vehicle Preparation Operative and has been part of the unit since its inception in 2022

Until 2022, this work was carried out by the ambulance crews – who had to factor in extra time ahead of each shift.

Ms Cook said she and her team made sure the ambulances were ready for crews to “go out on the front line and tend to our patients”.

While one team tackles the outside of the vehicle, another team of two checks the inside and makes sure everything is cleaned and well-stocked.

“We also make sure that we’ve got extra goods on the vehicles, like ice scrapes, de-icer, salt sticks, and snow socks for them to be able to go out and see to our patients,” Ms Cook added.

Teams of workers (known as a Vehicle Preparation Operatives) stock and prepare the inside of each ambulance

A man in orange high vis, wearing protective clothing including disposable gloves and an apron, checks a cabinet inside an ambulance. — Teams of workers (known as a Vehicle Preparation Operatives) stock and prepare the inside of each ambulance

Christian Chambers is a clinical team manager, which means he takes charge of ambulance response during major incidents.

Before this, Mr Chambers worked as a paramedic, often out on the road in an ambulance.

He said: “We used to have 15 minutes at the beginning of the shift where we could check the vehicles are fully stocked, they’re clean and compliant.

“The [Ambulance Vehicle Preparation] team now do that for us”.

Christian Chambers is a clinical team manager, which means he takes charge of the ambulance response at major incidents.

A man in a green ambulance service uniform smiles into the camera. He has dark hair and blue eyes. — Christian Chambers is a clinical team manager, which means he takes charge of the ambulance response at major incidents.

Mr Chambers said this meant paramedics were able to get to patients more quickly.

Last year, SWASFT said its ambulances covered 22 million miles – the equivalent of about 45 trips to the moon and back.

The team of mechanics at the depot are also a major part of the operation.

“I think the team here are the unsung heroes,” said Gemma Priest, vehicle production manager.

“I think if you see an ambulance going down the street on blue lights, you would never think about the team behind that vehicle,” Ms Priest said.

She added: “You wouldn’t consider what they’ve done to prepare that vehicle ready for our crews to get on, to go out and serve our patients.”

Gemma Priest is in charge of a team of 14 staff, who work all-year-round

A blonde woman in a dark blue ambulance uniform is standing in front of two ambulances inside the depot. She is smiling to the camera. — Gemma Priest is in charge of a team of 14 staff, who work all-year-round

The NHS is currently facing an unprecedented wave of the flu, as well as the usual winter pressures.

Mr Chambers said the winter challenges were nothing new.

“We see it every year, and every year, the hospital especially is under significant pressure,” he said.

He added: “But through our staff at the hub, and through the [AVP] team here helping alleviate that pressure, it means we can get out and do what we do best – helping patients”.

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