NEWS: Nissan Patrol Adds 4x4 Capability To Coventry & Warwickshire Ambulance NHS Trust Fleet

Covering over 750 square miles and serving a population of more than half a
million residents, Coventry & Warwickshire Ambulance NHS Trust has put a
huge emphasis on the vehicles used in its emergency fleet. The addition of a
Nissan Patrol to the fleet has enabled the Trust to benefit from a fully
equipped, emergency 4x4 ambulance with the ability to cope with adverse
weather conditions and any emergency that may be thrown in its direction.

The Nissan Patrol is one of the first of its kind to carry the European
Standard Colour of Euro Yellow. Euro Yellow is being introduced throughout
Europe to make all emergency vehicles instantly recognisable. Converted by
ATT Patworth in Cambridge, the Patrol is a fully equipped 4x4 ambulance with
the capacity to carry stretchers and thanks to the high roof, it gives the
crews an enhanced working area.

Carrying the same equipment as a frontline ambulance the Patrol is fully
equipped with satellite navigation, which linked directly to the radio
communication and data keypad ensures directions are available to the crew
as soon as emergency calls are taken, saving precious seconds.

Graham Cann, Fleet Manager, commented: "The Patrol was invaluable during the
snow storms earlier this year and the high specification of the vehicle has
also enabled us to serve events such as horse-racing at Warwick and
Stratford as well as Speedway."

Full story:
"http://www.carpages.co.uk/nissan/nissan_patrol_adds_4x4_capability_to_coven
try_and_warwickshire_ambulance_trust_fleet_30_05_04.asp"

Blippie <[email protected]> wrote:

> Covering over 750 square miles and serving a population of more than half a
> million residents, Coventry & Warwickshire Ambulance NHS Trust has put a
> huge emphasis on the vehicles used in its emergency fleet. The addition of a
> Nissan Patrol to the fleet has enabled the Trust to benefit from a fully
> equipped, emergency 4x4 ambulance with the ability to cope with adverse
> weather conditions and any emergency that may be thrown in its direction.

**** poor choice for an Ambulance IMO. Firstly the engine options
available in the UK make it a slug compared to other 4x4s. Secondly it's
got indifferent on-road manners and the ride quality is IMO poor. It's
also over-wide for work involving going off the beaten track.

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maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
Renault, now Nissan, what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?
Ernie
>
> **** poor choice for an Ambulance IMO. Firstly the engine options
> available in the UK make it a slug compared to other 4x4s. Secondly it's
> got indifferent on-road manners and the ride quality is IMO poor. It's
> also over-wide for work involving going off the beaten track.
>
> --
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ernie woodhall <[email protected]> wrote:

> maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
> Renault, now Nissan,

"SJA"?

> what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?

High price, poor reliability.

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>>maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
>>Renault, now Nissan,
>
>"SJA"?

St John Ambulance

>>what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?

>High price, poor reliability.

(would argue about those two as it's all a relative matter but I won't waste
my breath)

Also, aren't LR already committed to ambulance building contracts for the
MoD, etc.?

Cheers

Blippie
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ernie woodhall ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying :

> maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
> Renault, now Nissan, what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?

I wonder if an existing preference for Renault for the on-road 'blooances
has predisposed them towards adding Nissan (who are, of course, owned by La
Regie) for the 4x4s?

Given that SJA is a charity, I wonder if there's an element of large
corporate sponsorship/support (perhaps in the form of very competitive
pricing) from Renault/Nissan UK?

>>maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
>>Renault, now Nissan, what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?
>
>I wonder if an existing preference for Renault for the on-road 'blooances
>has predisposed them towards adding Nissan (who are, of course, owned by La
>Regie) for the 4x4s?
>
>Given that SJA is a charity, I wonder if there's an element of large
>corporate sponsorship/support (perhaps in the form of very competitive
>pricing) from Renault/Nissan UK?

Whilst Renault is one of the marques of choice for ambulance services, it
takes more than agglomeration economies/bulk buying (and even allowing a
large margin for the more advanced equipment NHS ambulances use) to explain
why SJA can pick up ambulances at around £40,000 when the NHS will be
looking at £80-100,000.

Cheers

Blippie
--
Visit the alt.aviation.safety FAQ online at www.blippie.org.uk

Blippie <[email protected]> wrote:

> >>maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
> >>Renault, now Nissan,
> >
> >"SJA"?
>
> St John Ambulance

Ah righto, Ta.

I don't know why they have it on their list. As a 4x4 it's not bad, but
the diesel was particularly poor IMO until recently and even now it's
still too small an engine, too sluggish.

> >>what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?
>
> >High price, poor reliability.
>
> (would argue about those two as it's all a relative matter but I won't waste
> my breath)
>
> Also, aren't LR already committed to ambulance building contracts for the
> MoD, etc.?

Yes, but we don't mind if a few squaddies get bounced to death instead
of dying where they fell.

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Steve Firth wrote:
> Blippie <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>>>maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
>>>>Renault, now Nissan,
>>>
>>>"SJA"?
>>
>>St John Ambulance
>
>
> Ah righto, Ta.
>
> I don't know why they have it on their list. As a 4x4 it's not bad, but
> the diesel was particularly poor IMO until recently and even now it's
> still too small an engine, too sluggish.
>
>
>>>>what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?
>>
>>>High price, poor reliability.
>>
>>(would argue about those two as it's all a relative matter but I won't waste
>>my breath)
>>
>>Also, aren't LR already committed to ambulance building contracts for the
>>MoD, etc.?
>
>
> Yes, but we don't mind if a few squaddies get bounced to death instead
> of dying where they fell.

They did an extended disco ambulance, and I've driven several types of
late 70's Range Rover ambulances, all of which would make more sense
than the nissan, apart from cost its the ease of conversion on a
standatd body, raising the roof is a dam sight easier than extending the
body....

Still I don't suppose those who ordered it will have to work in it.
I wonder what "sweetener" they were offered, still Al should be happy
they've sold one (one of the design team I know from the land-rover world).

"Steve Firth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1geplne.1fksjis1ooodusN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk...
> ernie woodhall <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
> > Renault, now Nissan,
>
> "SJA"?

St. John Ambulance, oiperator of One of, if not the largest fleet of
frontline ambulances in the UK
>
> > what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?
>
> High price, poor reliability.

more pointedly

can't get a trolley cot into Discovery II or defender 110 easily and /or
ergonomically ( hence the reason discovery 1 Ambulances were either 116 in
wheelbase - NEAS or Derbyshire) or had no front passenger seat

that said the Nissan patrol is not the most ergonomic 4*4 ambulance i've
seen , but it it's far more wieldy than a 130" Defender or a Pinzgauer

whether discovery 3 with it's 114 in wheelbase changes the picture

other point with respect to road ambulances

Renault Master - quite simply the renault master is the best suited chassis
from a wheelbase and suspension point of view for a low floor ambulance,
with an acceptably shallow wedge ramp, whiile retaining any vestiage of
variable purpose useage - hence it's widespread adoption by many NHS fleets
as well.






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"Blippie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >>maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
> >>Renault, now Nissan, what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's
sake?
> >
> >I wonder if an existing preference for Renault for the on-road 'blooances
> >has predisposed them towards adding Nissan (who are, of course, owned by
La
> >Regie) for the 4x4s?
> >
> >Given that SJA is a charity, I wonder if there's an element of large
> >corporate sponsorship/support (perhaps in the form of very competitive
> >pricing) from Renault/Nissan UK?
>
> Whilst Renault is one of the marques of choice for ambulance services, it
> takes more than agglomeration economies/bulk buying (and even allowing a
> large margin for the more advanced equipment NHS ambulances use) to
explain
> why SJA can pick up ambulances at around £40,000 when the NHS will be
> looking at £80-100,000.

the 80 -100 k is often quoteed as the price of a modular bodied vehicle
rather than a van conversion

currently crusader costs between 45 and 50 k / vehicle

i'm not sure what price Staffs would quote fo their collet/ fiat van
conversion

i'm not sure what price WMAS would quote for their papworth trenaulrs or
collet/ renaults

the cost savings are in the following areas

a van conversion is cheaper than a modular body, even before considering the
increased testing costs of a modular body which doesn'yt have the factory
crash data on the basic structure

not having to buy a LP12 or loaded ZollM saves a big proprotion of the
price - many of the large NHS praices include new defib equipment to deliver
the requirements of the Coronary heart disease agenda

not including the price of data terminals in the ex works price for Crusader
just the PMR radio and wiring for two antennae, not including the cost of
the mobile phone itself in hte price , just the handsfree kit


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Martyn Hodson wrote:
> the 80 -100 k is often quoteed as the price of a modular bodied vehicle
> rather than a van conversion
>
> currently crusader costs between 45 and 50 k / vehicle
>
> the cost savings are in the following areas
>
> a van conversion is cheaper than a modular body, even before considering the
> increased testing costs of a modular body which doesn'yt have the factory
> crash data on the basic structure

We did OK buying a diesel transit demo ambulance some 11 years ago, cost
us 16 grand and returns good fuel economy, still only done 36k as the
county transport co-ordinator prefers to send v8 LDVs or crusaders on
those jobs, as our converted van doesn't look as good....Came with all
fittings and 2 york 4's now fitted with a single easy lift.

Blippie <[email protected]> wrote:

> Covering over 750 square miles and serving a population of more than half a
> million residents, Coventry & Warwickshire Ambulance NHS Trust has put a
> huge emphasis on the vehicles used in its emergency fleet. The addition of a
> Nissan Patrol to the fleet has enabled the Trust to benefit from a fully
> equipped, emergency 4x4 ambulance with the ability to cope with adverse
> weather conditions and any emergency that may be thrown in its direction.

**** poor choice for an Ambulance IMO. Firstly the engine options
available in the UK make it a slug compared to other 4x4s. Secondly it's
got indifferent on-road manners and the ride quality is IMO poor. It's
also over-wide for work involving going off the beaten track.

--
Having problems understanding usenet? Or do you simply need help but
are getting unhelpful answers? Subscribe to: uk.net.beginners for
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maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
Renault, now Nissan, what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?
Ernie
>
> **** poor choice for an Ambulance IMO. Firstly the engine options
> available in the UK make it a slug compared to other 4x4s. Secondly it's
> got indifferent on-road manners and the ride quality is IMO poor. It's
> also over-wide for work involving going off the beaten track.
>
> --
> Having problems understanding usenet? Or do you simply need help but
> are getting unhelpful answers? Subscribe to: uk.net.beginners for
> friendly advice in a flame-free environment.

ernie woodhall <[email protected]> wrote:

> maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
> Renault, now Nissan,

"SJA"?

> what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?

High price, poor reliability.

--
Having problems understanding usenet? Or do you simply need help but
are getting unhelpful answers? Subscribe to: uk.net.beginners for
friendly advice in a flame-free environment.

>>maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
>>Renault, now Nissan,
>
>"SJA"?

St John Ambulance

>>what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?

>High price, poor reliability.

(would argue about those two as it's all a relative matter but I won't waste
my breath)

Also, aren't LR already committed to ambulance building contracts for the
MoD, etc.?

Cheers

Blippie
--
Visit the alt.aviation.safety FAQ online at www.blippie.org.uk

ernie woodhall ([email protected]) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying :

> maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
> Renault, now Nissan, what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?

I wonder if an existing preference for Renault for the on-road 'blooances
has predisposed them towards adding Nissan (who are, of course, owned by La
Regie) for the 4x4s?

Given that SJA is a charity, I wonder if there's an element of large
corporate sponsorship/support (perhaps in the form of very competitive
pricing) from Renault/Nissan UK?

>>maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
>>Renault, now Nissan, what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?
>
>I wonder if an existing preference for Renault for the on-road 'blooances
>has predisposed them towards adding Nissan (who are, of course, owned by La
>Regie) for the 4x4s?
>
>Given that SJA is a charity, I wonder if there's an element of large
>corporate sponsorship/support (perhaps in the form of very competitive
>pricing) from Renault/Nissan UK?

Whilst Renault is one of the marques of choice for ambulance services, it
takes more than agglomeration economies/bulk buying (and even allowing a
large margin for the more advanced equipment NHS ambulances use) to explain
why SJA can pick up ambulances at around £40,000 when the NHS will be
looking at £80-100,000.

Cheers

Blippie
--
Visit the alt.aviation.safety FAQ online at www.blippie.org.uk

Blippie <[email protected]> wrote:

> >>maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
> >>Renault, now Nissan,
> >
> >"SJA"?
>
> St John Ambulance

Ah righto, Ta.

I don't know why they have it on their list. As a 4x4 it's not bad, but
the diesel was particularly poor IMO until recently and even now it's
still too small an engine, too sluggish.

> >>what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?
>
> >High price, poor reliability.
>
> (would argue about those two as it's all a relative matter but I won't waste
> my breath)
>
> Also, aren't LR already committed to ambulance building contracts for the
> MoD, etc.?

Yes, but we don't mind if a few squaddies get bounced to death instead
of dying where they fell.

--
Having problems understanding usenet? Or do you simply need help but
are getting unhelpful answers? Subscribe to: uk.net.beginners for
friendly advice in a flame-free environment.

Steve Firth wrote:
> Blippie <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>>>maybe that's why SJA have it as their preferred off-road option. First
>>>>Renault, now Nissan,
>>>
>>>"SJA"?
>>
>>St John Ambulance
>
>
> Ah righto, Ta.
>
> I don't know why they have it on their list. As a 4x4 it's not bad, but
> the diesel was particularly poor IMO until recently and even now it's
> still too small an engine, too sluggish.
>
>
>>>>what's the matter with Land-Rover for heaven's sake?
>>
>>>High price, poor reliability.
>>
>>(would argue about those two as it's all a relative matter but I won't waste
>>my breath)
>>
>>Also, aren't LR already committed to ambulance building contracts for the
>>MoD, etc.?
>
>
> Yes, but we don't mind if a few squaddies get bounced to death instead
> of dying where they fell.

They did an extended disco ambulance, and I've driven several types of
late 70's Range Rover ambulances, all of which would make more sense
than the nissan, apart from cost its the ease of conversion on a
standatd body, raising the roof is a dam sight easier than extending the
body....

Still I don't suppose those who ordered it will have to work in it.
I wonder what "sweetener" they were offered, still Al should be happy
they've sold one (one of the design team I know from the land-rover world).