FOI 25-300 Private Ambulance Regulations

Freedom of Information Request

Reference

FOI 25-300 Private Ambulance Regulations

Request Date

17 Jul 2025

Response Date

08 Aug 2025

Information Requested

The use of blue lights by private ambulance services operating within Scotland, and the Scottish Ambulance Service’s position on SAS-employed clinical staff working privately for those providers.

1. Private Ambulance Use of Blue Lights
a. Does the Scottish Ambulance Service maintain formal policy, guidance, or approval criteria governing when and how private ambulance providers may use blue lights or operate in an emergency capacity?
b. What oversight, if any, does SAS have over event medical cover or transport services that operate under private companies but display NHS-style emergency vehicles with blue lighting?

2. Reports & Enforcement
a. Has SAS received any complaints or incident reports (from public, NHS staff, or law enforcement) regarding unauthorised use of blue lights by private ambulance firms between 2022 and 2025?
b. What process does SAS follow if a private provider is found to be misusing emergency lighting or advertising capabilities they are not legally authorised to provide?
c. Has SAS taken any advisory, disciplinary, or referral action involving specific companies for misrepresentation or misuse?

3. NHS Staff Working for Private Ambulance Firms a. Does SAS permit currently employed paramedics, technicians, or clinicians to work for private ambulance services during off-shift periods?
b. Are there any formal rules or policies regulating SAS staff who work in private roles — particularly regarding:

Blue-light driving

Clinical governance

Use of NHS uniforms, titles, or insignia?

c. Has SAS investigated or disciplined any staff between 2022 and 2025 in relation to misuse of blue-light authority or credentials while working privately?

4. External Oversight & Reporting
a. Does SAS collaborate with Police Scotland, DVSA, or the Care Inspectorate in regulating or monitoring private providers operating ambulance-style vehicles?
b. How does SAS respond to or escalate public complaints about blue-light misuse when it falls outside their direct dispatch authority?

5. Public and Provider-Facing Guidance
a. Does SAS publish or distribute any official documentation (handbooks, website pages, letters) that sets out the legal limitations of blue-light use for non-NHS ambulance operators?
b. If so, please provide a copy or direct link.

Response

1. Private Ambulance Use of Blue Lights
a. Does the Scottish Ambulance Service maintain formal policy, guidance, or approval criteria governing when and how private ambulance providers may use blue lights or operate in an emergency capacity?
The Scottish Ambulance Service does not delegate any of its statutory responsibility to Private Ambulance Providers, therefore we do not require these resources to operate in an emergency capacity as the statutory authority.
b. What oversight, if any, does SAS have over event medical cover or transport services that operate under private companies but display NHS-style emergency vehicles with blue lighting?
The Scottish Ambulance Service have no oversight of event medical cover or transport services provided by Private Ambulance Providers.

2. Reports & Enforcement
a. Has SAS received any complaints or incident reports (from public, NHS staff, or law enforcement) regarding unauthorised use of blue lights by private ambulance firms between 2022 and 2025?
The Scottish Ambulance Service have not received any complaints or incident reports.
b. What process does SAS follow if a private provider is found to be misusing emergency lighting or advertising capabilities they are not legally authorised to provide?
SAS do not have oversight of Private Ambulance Providers and any breach of the law or regulations would be a matter for Police Scotland to consider.
c. Has SAS taken any advisory, disciplinary, or referral action involving specific companies for misrepresentation or misuse?
The Scottish Ambulance Service would act where a private ambulance firm, or any other organisation, misuses the Crown Badge of the Scottish Ambulance Service which is protected in Scotland. Any other issue would sit with Police Scotland.

3. NHS Staff Working for Private Ambulance Firms
a. Does SAS permit currently employed paramedics, technicians, or clinicians to work for private ambulance services during off-shift periods?
The Scottish Ambulance Service has a secondary employment policy which enables staff to hold secondary employment which may include Private Ambulance Services.
 
b. Are there any formal rules or policies regulating SAS staff who work in private roles — particularly regarding:

• Blue-light driving - The use of audible and visual warning is clearly stated in the Road Traffic Act, and we would expect our staff as per their training to adhere to this. The resource would need to be dispatched by the statutory authority and SAS do not require these resources to operate in an emergency capacity.
• Clinical governance – Paramedics are HCPC registered and must act within the Code of Ethics and Conduct, other staff may have a duty to act, but in a limited capacity as they are not in possession of SAS resources or equipment.
• Use of NHS uniforms, titles, or insignia? – The Scottish Ambulance Service does not permit the use of uniforms, titles, or insignia for any instance where staff are not representing the interests of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

c. Has SAS investigated or disciplined any staff between 2022 and 2025 in relation to misuse of blue-light authority or credentials while working privately? – There have been no formal investigations or disciplinaries launched in relation to staff misusing blue-light authority for the dates you have requested.

4. External Oversight & Reporting
a. Does SAS collaborate with Police Scotland, DVSA, or the Care Inspectorate in regulating or monitoring private providers operating ambulance-style vehicles?
No, there are no formal agreements in place.
b. How does SAS respond to or escalate public complaints about blue-light misuse when it falls outside their direct dispatch authority?
The complainant would be advised to raise any concern with Police Scotland.

5. Public and Provider-Facing Guidance
a. Does SAS publish or distribute any official documentation (handbooks, website pages, letters) that sets out the legal limitations of blue-light use for non-NHS ambulance operators?
No, as stated previously the Road Traffic Act sets out the legal limitations and the appropriate use of exemptions. This is covered in the Emergency Response Driving course for all SAS staff. SAS do not provide any guidance for non-NHS ambulance operators as we have no oversight on their business practices or the drivers they utilise.
b. If so, please provide a copy or direct link. N/A