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Experts probe Ambulance breakdown

Friday, 05 September 2008

nvestigations are under way to see if an ambulance breakdown was connected to a spate of recent engine fires.

A crew pulled in off the A55 at Rhuallt Hill "as a precaution" after steam was seen billowing from the engine.

A specialist team is already inspecting three other ambulance engines after they caught fire last month.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said minor modifications were expected to be complete by next week across its new 119-strong fleet after tests.

Firefighters attended the latest ncident on Thursday but said there was no fire.

The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust wants to establish if the incidents are linked.

A spokesman said the crew was returning to a hospital with no patients on board.

He said it was believed the vehicle was taken away for inspection.

Steam

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We can confirm that an emergency ambulance developed a mechanical problem whilst returning back from hospital to base and the crew pulled the vehicle over as a matter of precaution. "

A North Wales Fire and Rescue spokeswoman confirmed officers attended amid fears the engine may have been alight, but said the problem appeared to be steam.

Mercedes-Benz has started an "urgent investigation" following two engine fires in north Wales and one in the south of the country.

The ambulance service said it was working "very closely" with the motor company's UK technical team to investigate the cause of the engine problems.

"To date there has been a minor modification, tested and approved by Mercedes engineering in Germany, this is part of an ongoing process with the vehicle manufacturer," said the spokesperson.

"Welsh Ambulance Service in partnership with Mercedes-Benz UK have worked extremely hard and quickly to carry out this modification and it is hoped the rest of the ambulance fleet will be finished in the next few days.

"The trust is doing everything that could reasonably be expected of it to deal with the problem."

The company last month told ambulance officials there was no need to take the new ambulances out of service.

The £16m fleet of Mercedes Sprinter 515 vehicles was only introduced in Wales last year and hailed as the "best ambulance in service in the UK" as the trust aimed at improving the service's performance.