Extra cash will pay for 69 new ambulances across the north west

The North West Ambulance Service is set to purchase the additional vehicles with its share of £36.3 million of Department for Health and Social Care funding, which will pay for 256 ambulances across the country.

Mr Menzies said: “This funding will help give its dedicated staff more and better equipment than ever before.

“I understand the North West Ambulance Service will add 69 new paramedic emergency service vehicles which will operate across its patch.

“It’s the NHS’s 70th anniversary and the Prime Minister [Theresa May] has already pledged an additional £394m per week for the organisation. This further funding is proof positive of our commitment to the NHS.”

NHS England’s medical director for acute care, Prof Keith Willett, said the funding was welcome, and would help make sure ambulance trusts can invest in new fleets ahead of the winter months.