VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Ambulance Services: Ukraine

Asked by Phil BrickellLabourDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 16 June 2026UIN 8224

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of repurposing ambulances approaching the end of their operational lifespan for humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

Answered by Karin Smyth

NHS England does not collect or hold information centrally on numbers of decommissioned National Health Service ambulances donated or sold to humanitarian charities.

Decommissioned NHS ambulances are generally sold at auction, mainly in the United Kingdom. Selling them or donating them to humanitarian charities is a matter for individual ambulance trusts. No specific assessment has been made on the merit of enabling humanitarian charities to purchase end-of-life ambulances, nor of repurposing ambulances approaching the end of their operational lifespan; however, the Department is exploring options to continue to support humanitarian relief in Ukraine, in liaison with a range of stakeholders including ambulance services.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim