The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST) has taken delivery of 33 Renault Master ambulance conversions.
The vans were already being converted at Wilkner when the lockdown was announced, and were completed, prepared and delivered to ensure the transport of non-emergency patients to essential medical appointments throughout the country.
WAST has purchased 140 Master ambulance conversions in the last month, with 220 vehicles in its 280-strong fleet being Renault Masters.
The vans were delivered through Renault’s Pro+ Tailor Made programme, which works with nearly 40 Renault-accredited converters. Renault Retail Group Cardiff adapted to accommodate the safe handover of the Trust’s latest ambulances. A dedicated technician and service advisor were installed at the dealership to PDI and prepare the ambulances.
David Holmes, national fleet manager, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, said: “The sub-3.5-tonne GVW van market is a crowded one yet the Renault Master is still my preferred option as the overall package that Renault provides stands out from the competition.
“WLTP has created difficulties for the whole motor industry with many manufacturers’ products losing available payload. However, the Master is still the van that comes out on top for me, add to that the excellent aftersales support I receive from all my dealerships in Wales means that I can deliver a robust and comprehensive service to the Welsh Ambulance service.”
Mark Dickens, fleet sales and remarketing director for Renault UK, added: “Our blue light customers are facing unprecedented demand for their services, while also having to adapt to immensely challenging working conditions, so it was important for WAST that it was still able to take delivery of its latest vehicles at a time when the majority of the country was effectively closed.
“The Trust completes over 1.5 million journeys each year for patients and we are very pleased that we could help it continue its invaluable work. We’re very proud of our relationship with WAST and the fact that it has found the Renault Master to be the perfect vehicle for its complex needs.”
