We operate in a rapidly changing health and care environment. A combination of population need, system pressures and national reform is reshaping how urgent and emergency care must be delivered across the North West. These forces will shape our role over the coming years.
Population health and inequalities
The North West experiences some of the highest levels of deprivation and poorest health outcomes in England. Higher prevalence of long-term conditions and lower life expectancy increase demand for urgent and emergency services.
Growing and ageing population
The number of people aged 65 and over is expected to increase by 36% by 2040. Older populations are more likely to live with multiple long-term conditions, increasing the complexity of care.
Urgent and emergency care system pressure
Demand for urgent and emergency care continues to rise while capacity across hospitals, community services and primary care remains constrained.
National reform and changing care models
The NHS 10 Year Health Plan sets out three major shifts:
Hospital → Community
Analogue → Digital
Treatment → Prevention
Digital and data opportunity
Advances in digital technology and analytics enable:
- Improved clinical decision support
- Better demand insight
- More coordinated care pathways.
Workforce sustainability
Like the wider NHS, ambulance services face recruitment, retention and wellbeing challenges, requiring a skilled, flexible and resilient workforce.
Together, these forces are reshaping the role ambulance services play in urgent and emergency care. We must continue to evolve – strengthening our partnerships, improving how patients access care, and developing new ways of working to meet the needs of the population we serve.
