The West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust (WMAS) is adding more emergency vehicles to service in and around Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, to help reach patients faster. The fleet expansion is part of a regional project to add 142 new vehicles by the end of March 2026, increasing capacity for local residents during life‑threatening and urgent emergencies.
The new vehicles include a mix of lighter, more fuel‑efficient diesel units and the first generation of fully electric ambulances. WMAS says the new designs include improvements that enhance patient care and staff safety and improve reliability, which should reduce breakdowns and time out of service. The vehicles are being prepared through WMAS’s Make Ready model at local sites such as the Leamington Spa Fleet Preparation Hub (Dale Street), helping keep more crews available for 999 calls rather than in maintenance.
Local leaders on Warwickshire County Council’s Adult Social Care & Health Scrutiny Committee have repeatedly called for better response times for urgent calls, including for suspected strokes and chest pains. National data from 2025 showed average response times for urgent (Category 2) calls often exceeded 27 minutes, compared with an 18‑minute target — a point raised by local councillors when scrutinising WMAS performance.
The funding for the vehicles forms part of a government package announced by the Department of Health and Social Care to expand ambulance capacity nationally. WMAS says that, of the 142 vehicles planned by March 2026, 87 have already been delivered and are now supporting communities across the West Midlands.
The update also includes new electric response cars built on Jaguar I‑PACE platforms to help the service meet environmental goals. Emergency Services Times reports that, once the rollout is complete by the end of March 2026, WMAS’s frontline fleet will grow to more than 500 vehicles.
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