ATS EUROMASTER’S RAPID RESPONSE KEY TO BLUE-LIGHT FLEET DEAL
9 May 2012
An independent ambulance fleet, responsible for providing emergency medical support to high-profile UK sporting events, has put ATS Euromaster to the test by appointing them to manage its tyres.
Slough-based MediForce Ltd operates a 30-strong fleet of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Renault Master ambulances, alongside Land Rover Freelander and Volvo XC70 rapid response vehicles.
Some of its biggest clients include racecourses such as Cheltenham, Epsom Downs, Huntingdon, Kempton Park and Sandown Park, where the British Horseracing Authority requires that ambulances are present during all race meetings. The critical nature of this service means MediForce risk financial penalties if vehicles suffer downtime on-site – making it essential to have a service provider which can respond to tyre failures at a moment’s notice.
In addition to its sporting contracts, MediForce also support the NHS in a frontline role, helping NHS Ambulance Trusts meet 999 response targets during peak periods.
David Hibbert, Operations Director at MediForce, says: “Punctures are part of life for any fleet, but in our line of business these delays can have serious consequences.
“We don’t operate under standard parameters; we’re on-duty 24/7 and need a service provider to match. Knowing ATS Euromaster’s rapid response team is just a phone call away – no matter what time it is or where we are – was a major factor in this agreement.”
MediForce took the decision to appoint ATS Euromaster after its fleet management records identified the time taken to source and replace damaged tyres as the principal cause of vehicle downtime – particularly when ambulances were operating further afield or outside of normal business hours.
Under the new arrangement, MediForce’s vehicles now benefit from the same tyre policy as many of the largest public sector ambulance fleets in the UK. This sees a mixture of premium brand Michelin, Pirelli and Continental tyres fitted by ATS Euromaster, replacing a previous agreement with a local tyre dealer.
ATS Euromaster will also undertake proactive tyre maintenance, including regular tyre safety inspections and wheel alignment checks to ensure that the fleet’s tyres are always in excellent condition.
David adds: “When the NHS calls asking for our support, it can often be at short or no notice, which reinforces the importance of having our vehicles ready and operational at all times.”
In addition to horse racing, MediForce has previously covered a number of other sporting events, including rugby, football, polo, motor sports and triathlons. It also provides patient transfer services across the UK and Europe.
ATS/360/12
About ATS Euromaster
ATS Euromaster is part of the Euromaster Group, which operates in fifteen European countries with 10,700 employees in more than 1,800 service centres. Established in the UK since 1961, ATS Euromaster has 370 service centres (comprising a mixture of retail, comprehensive and truck sites), approximately 1,000 mobile service vans and employs over 2,700 people, providing national coverage of the UK. It is the largest comprehensive tyre distributor supplying tyres for everything from cars and vans to trucks, coaches, forklifts, agricultural tractors and even construction plant. In 2010 ATS Euromaster became the first national tyre expert to be accredited by both SAFEContractor and the Contractors Health and Safety Scheme (CHAS). The company’s technicians are amongst the most highly trained in the fast-fit industry, offering a comprehensive range of products and services including tyres, fleet inspections, nitrogen inflation, brakes, batteries, shock absorbers, oil, exhausts, fault diagnostics, air-conditioning servicing and MOT testing. Further information is available from www.atseuromaster.co.uk
About MediForce
MediForce is a private ambulance service providing professional medical cover to the private sector. They offer a repatriation service to both leading medical insurance providers and individuals. This includes the arrangement of air and/or road ambulance transport. MediForce works hard to ensure patients receive high quality care when transferring between mainland Europe and hospitals near their home following illness or accidents abroad. Additionally, they employ HPC paramedics and IHCD technicians to provide cover for a wide number of sporting venues and events.
Note to editor: For press information please contact James Keeler on 020 8647 4467.
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