NHS rolls out semi-autonomous ambulances to tackle deadly 999 delays

NHS rolls out semi-autonomous ambulances to tackle deadly 999 delaysNHS gets record 1,141 new ambulances in England last year to improve 999 response times - all equipped with Advanced Driving Assistance SystemsCommentsNewsMartin Bagot Health and Science Editor22:30, 04 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesNew top of the range ambulances rolled out across EnglandA new fleet of semi-autonomous ambulances have been rolled out to 999 services across England.‌The NHS added 1,141 new or replacement ambulances in 2025/26 - the highest on record in a single year - in an effort to tackle rising 999 response times which had skyrocketed in the previous decade. The modern Fiat, MAN and Ford vans are equipped with Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) which use cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors to detect surrounding objects and respond to potential dangers.‌When speeding through traffic they can detect vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists - and apply automatic braking if a collision is imminent.‌View 2 ImagesA record number of new ambulances were purchased for NHS trusts in England last yearREAD MORE: Wes Streeting announces Labour will ‘end corridor care’ in NHS hospitals by 2029READ MORE: Keir Starmer's first year: Mirror expert verdicts on Labour's first 12 monthsWriter for the Mirror, health minister Zubir Ahmed said this will mean “quicker help arriving at the door”. He said: “By modernising the NHS fleet, our hardworking paramedics are equipped with all the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively… these vehicles are equipped with the technology to better protect staff and support faster, more effective treatment.”Ambulance response times had worsened since the Tories came to power in 2010 amid staffing problems and an ageing fleet, reaching a record low point during the Covid-19 pandemic. In December 2022, responses to Category 2 calls - which include strokes, heart attacks, epileptic fits and sepsis - took an average of one hour and 33 minutes.‌The Mirro...