Established on 1 July 2006 following the merger of the Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside ambulance trusts, NWAS has transformed how care is delivered to patients across the North West.

Since its formation, we have:

• Answered an estimated 28 million 999 calls
• Attended around 20 million emergency incidents
• Carried out more than 20 million patient transport journeys
• Supported millions more people through NHS 111 and community services.

To mark this milestone, we welcomed colleagues, all of whom have served for more than 20 years, to step back in time and see how ambulance care has progressed well beyond their own careers, with artefacts that demonstrate the journey from basic first aid and transport to today’s highly skilled clinical service. The event brought together colleagues from Paramedic Emergency Service (PES), Integrated Contact Centres (ICC), and Patient Transport Service (PTS) — all of whom have dedicated more than 20 years of service to caring for patients in the North West, who also spoke about their careers to the invited media.

Ian Moses, Area Director at NWAS, said: “This anniversary is a proud moment for everyone at NWAS. Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen a real transformation in how we care for patients — from primarily transporting people to hospital, to delivering highly skilled clinical care at the scene and in the community.

“Our staff are at the heart of that progress. It’s incredibly special to be celebrating alongside colleagues from PES, ICC and PTS who have each given more than two decades of service to the NHS and the communities we serve.

“It’s a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come, while also looking ahead to how we continue to develop, innovate and provide the very best care for our patients in the future.”

The museum is curated by retired paramedic Glyn Brown and features historic vehicles, equipment, uniforms, photographs, and archival material charting the development of the ambulance service over many decades. It runs until 29th May and is due to return again in September.

Glyn Brown said, “I’ve spent many years collecting and preserving items that tell the story of the ambulance service, because it’s so important that we don’t lose that history.

“Every piece in the collection has its own story to tell — from early equipment and uniforms to more modern advances — and together they show just how much the service has evolved.

“It’s fantastic to be able to share the collection with colleagues, the public and the media, especially in such a special anniversary year, and help bring the history of patient care to life.

“I keep the past for the future.”

The anniversary coincides with the launch of our new five-year strategy (2026–2031), which sets out how the organisation will respond to rising demand, increasingly complex patient needs and health inequalities across the North West.

The strategy focuses on four key priorities:

• Delivering outstanding, inclusive patient care
• Supporting a safe, inclusive and positive culture for staff
• Strengthening partnerships across the NHS and communities
• Driving innovation and continuous improvement.

A major focus of the strategy is ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place, including more treatment delivered in the community or at home, rather than hospital wherever appropriate.

The plan also highlights the growing role of digital and technology-enabled care, including improved clinical decision-making, better coordination with partners, and new ways for patients to access support through integrated contact centres and virtual care.

Reducing health inequalities and strengthening the patient voice are central to the approach, with the trust committing to work more closely with communities to shape services and improve outcomes for people across the region.