Innovation and investments in digital, tech, and data are planned to improve patient outcomes as part of East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust’s (EEAST) strategy for 2025-2030.
Broken down into four parts, the trust’s strategy focuses on delivering better care for patients, supporting its workforce to deliver “the best care they can every day”, working with partners to get patients to the best care first time, and building a sustainable service model responsive to patient needs.
As part of the development work on the new strategy, the trust reports having undertaken a “full review” of policies, performance, and health data, intended to produce insights into the nature of services delivered and evidence of increasing complexity as a result of an ageing population. 2,042 people also submitted more than 12,000 ideas and comments via an online platform set up to facilitate online engagement, with these activities informing the focus on collaboration, culture, values, productivity, and the role of tech in innovating processes.
Agreeing the role and service that EEAST provides within the regional system will be key, it states, as will having “the right people in the right roles”, continued education and development, an inclusive culture, and the co-design of new models of care and service agreements with partners. The trust commits to driving innovation across the system, to making better use of resources, and to investing in digital, tech, and data, to deliver “high quality and innovative” patient experiences.
For patients, the strategy aims for faster response times, quicker access to the right care, and improved confidence in service, according to EEAST. Clinicians will be able to focus on delivering emergency care with the tools and information they require to perform their role, benefiting from personal development opportunities and support from leadership. For partners, the trust looks to achieve more effective collaboration, ensuring only those in genuine need are taken to EDs to support improved patient flow. Data will be collected and shared more effectively with partners, leading to opportunities to improve decision-making around patient pathways and system improvements.
Digital in ambulance services
The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives issued a position paper offering strategic input ahead of the 2025/26 ambulance commissioning review, recognising this as a “pivotal opportunity to resolve longstanding commissioning barriers to optimal patient care delivery”, and highlighting current state lack of integration and use of digital systems. Identifying three barriers to effective service delivery: structural and governance inefficiencies; limiting financial frameworks; and system integration constraints; AACE recommends adopting a multi-tiered commissioning framework with a “robust structure”, with a regional commissioning model for ambulance services.
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust published a prior information notice for an electronic patient care record solution for its ambulance services. As part of the procurement process, the trust aims to “consider the advantages of open tendering versus the use of different procurement routes”, which includes the use of any relevant public procurement framework or developing an in-house solution. The contract is valued at up to £15 million and is expected to last for a 5-year period, starting from October 2026.
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust board shared a series of updates on current digital, data and innovation work, including an AI and automation programme, infrastructure programme, and data programme. Key areas of focus for its digital & data programme 2025/26 include the implementation of robotic process automation to reduce repetitive tasks and free up administrative time, and an infrastructure programme aiming to reduce internal critical incidents by 30 percent by April 2026. The programme also involves testing and evaluating of ambient voice tech in clinical settings, the achievement of Cyber Essentials + accreditation, and the improvement of the data warehouse platform to enhance reporting.
