Ambulance chief warns NHS lacks resources for major terror response

The NHS may not be adequately prepared to respond to a large-scale terrorist attack, with ambulance services lacking sufficient training, equipment and resources, a senior trust leader has warned.

Peter Reading, chief executive of Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said lessons identified after the Manchester Arena bombing had still not been fully implemented across England. The 2017 attack killed 22 people and left hundreds injured, exposing serious problems with communication, command arrangements, casualty treatment and the deployment of emergency responders.

Concerns centre on whether ambulance trusts have the specialist personnel, protective equipment and funding required to enter dangerous areas, treat large numbers of casualties and maintain ordinary emergency cover at the same time. Yorkshire Ambulance Service has previously said its implementation of the inquiry’s recommendations depended on external capital and revenue funding being made available.

NHS England’s own emergency-preparedness report states that work on the Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations remains ongoing. This includes improving pain relief before patients reach hospital and assessing the capabilities of ambulance trusts through a national assurance process.

NHS England maintains that the health service is prepared to respond to emergencies and points to national exercises, strengthened oversight and investment in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response capabilities. However, Reading’s intervention raises concern that formal plans may not be matched by consistent frontline capacity if another mass-casualty attack occurs.

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