A NEW set of state-of-the-art ambulances with the latest life-saving equipment have taken to the streets of East Lancashire.

Lancashire Ambulance Service has taken delivery of 15 emergency ambulances, six of which will be used in East Lancashire based in Blackburn, Altham, Burnley, Rossendale and Accrington.

The new vehicles when fully equipped, cost £90,000 each . They carry life-saving equipment, including electro-cardiograph machines which can transmit information on a patient's condition directly into hospital while the ambulance is en route.

They have been tailor-made afterstaff in Lancashire suggested specifications.

Apart from a few prototypes being used in other areas, Lancashire has the largest fleet of these high-tech vehicles in service.

Over the past few months staff have been trained in their operation.

Assistant operations manager Iqbal Masters said: "The vehicles have been designed with both patient and paramedic safety and comfort in mind. The hydraulically-operated stretchers, for example, greatly reduce amount of lifting a paramedic has to do and also provides a smoother lift for the patient.

"They have other features such as satellite navigation. In the past we have relied heavily on maps but this helps us reach patients much quicker."

Operations manager Tony Dixon said the new vehicles, which are leased from a specialist company and increase the overall fleet across the county by three, were designed with input from staff who hold regular vehicle task group meetings.

He said: "We hold regular meetings and that way when new vehicles are being leased the actual people who use them can have a say."

Chief executive of Lancashire Ambulance Service NHS Trust David Hill said all frontline emergency ambulances were now less than five years old and the service was proud of its modern and reliable fleet.

He said: "I welcome the contribution which staff make in influencing the design of each new batch of ambulances to ensure that we continually improve and reflect best practice."