South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

What South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust does

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is a statutory UK NHS Foundation Trust delivering integrated emergency and urgent care services across South Central England. The trust operates three core commissioned service lines: a 999 emergency ambulance service handling over 600,000 calls annually across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire via a fleet of 1,100+ ambulances and specialist vehicles; the NHS 111 urgent care service, staffed by 500+ call handlers and clinicians responding to over 1.5 million calls per year; and a Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service delivering more than 23,500 patient journeys monthly in Hampshire and Milton Keynes. The organisation employs approximately 4,300 staff supported by 850 volunteer Community First Responders, and is headquartered in Bicester, Oxfordshire with operational bases in Newbury, Milton Keynes and Portsmouth. SCAS was the first UK ambulance service to achieve a Care Quality Commission rating.

The trust's technology stack centres on standard NHS digital infrastructure (NHS Pathways triage decision support, Cleric patient transport software, Cleric/MES membership systems) augmented by a partnership with Qlik, Differentia Consulting and Ordnance Survey on AI-driven predictive maintenance, processing approximately 32 million telematics records monthly from 300 vehicles to forecast failures and compress maintenance cycles. An active research portfolio — including the SPEEDY stroke pathway study, HARMONIE RSV trial, ELSA type 1 diabetes screening, STALLED hospital-handover study, and the CEDAR community engagement programme — is supported by the South Central Regional Research Delivery Network and integrated regional partnerships with University Hospital Southampton, Oxford University Hospitals, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and the Thames Valley and Surrey Health and Care Data Partnership Secure Data Environment initiative.

SCAS is publicly funded; revenue is not disclosed. All core services are commissioned by NHS England and Clinical Commissioning Groups and delivered free at point of use. Income derives from annual commissioning contracts, supplemented by charitable fundraising through the South Central Ambulance Charity (over £520,000 raised in 2025) and limited commercial partnerships. The trust is governed by a Board of Directors and Council of Governors under the NHS Foundation Trust framework, with Simon Ashton appointed as Group Chief Executive across SCAS and South East Coast Ambulance Service from April 2026, signalling NHS England's direction toward regional ambulance service consolidation.

Name

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Legal name

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Website

https://scas.nhs.uk

Company type

Public

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is a publicly funded UK NHS ambulance trust delivering 999 emergency response, NHS 111 urgent care, and non-emergency patient transport to approximately four million residents across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (621910), Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers (621493)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) & Ambulance Services (BPAIAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations & Dispatch (HLAJAGAC), Emergency Dispatch Center Services (PSAP/911 Support, Private Dispatch) (BPAKAFAJ)

Keywords

• Emergency medical services
• Ambulance services
• Urgent care helpline
• Patient transport
• Pre-hospital care

Headquarters

HQ city

Bicester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. NHS Commissioned Services: Core services (999 emergency, NHS 111, Patient Transport Service) are commissioned and funded by NHS England and Clinical Commissioning Groups. As an NHS Foundation Trust, SCAS receives public funding for healthcare services delivered to eligible patients at no charge at point of use.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust delivers integrated emergency and urgent care across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire. It operates the 999 emergency ambulance service (over 600,000 calls annually), the NHS 111 urgent care helpline (over 1.5 million calls annually), and a Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service delivering more than 23,500 patient journeys monthly in Hampshire and Milton Keynes, supported by approximately 4,300 staff and 850 volunteer Community First Responders.

Product overview

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust operates as a single unified NHS ambulance service delivering three core products: 999 Emergency Care Service (handling over 600,000 emergency calls annually across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire), NHS 111 Service (responding to over 1.5 million calls annually with 500+ call handlers and clinicians), and Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (delivering over 23,500 patient journeys monthly in Hampshire and Milton Keynes). The trust also manages Community First Responders and Public Access Defibrillators programs, operates South Central Ambulance Charity for fundraising, and conducts research initiatives including the CEDAR community engagement project, SPEEDY stroke pathway study, HARMONIE RSV study, ELSA diabetes screening study, Take Home Naloxone programme, Spinal Immobilisation Study, and STALLED hospital handover study. The trust serves approximately 4,300 staff supported by 850 volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 999 Emergency Care Service Emergency ambulance response to life-threatening injuries or illnesses across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, handling over 600,000 emergency calls annually with a fleet of more than 1,100 ambulances and specialist vehicles. Targets include a seven-minute response for cardiac arrest cases.
• NHS 111 Service 24/7 urgent care helpline staffed by over 500 call handlers and clinicians, responding to more than 1.5 million calls annually via telephone and 111.nhs.uk, using the NHS Pathways assessment tool to triage callers to the appropriate care.
• Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (PTS) Free NHS service providing non-urgent patient transport for eligible patients attending hospital appointments, outpatient clinics, discharges, and life-saving treatments such as chemotherapy and dialysis. Delivers over 23,500 patient journeys monthly using dedicated call takers, dispatchers, ambulance care assistants, support staff and volunteer drivers, managed via the Cleric platform.
• Community First Responders

Quantifiable outcome

• Response targets for cardiac arrest measured in seven minutes
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• QlikcoreTechnology or Integration · 28 July 2025Technology partnership for AI-driven predictive maintenance of ambulance fleet. Qlik provides data analytics capabilities enabling SCAS to process 32 million telematics records monthly to predict vehicle failures and improve response times.
• Differentia ConsultingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementation partner for the predictive maintenance initiative, working alongside Qlik and Ordnance Survey to develop risk-scoring recommendations integrated into operational workflows.
• Ordnance SurveycoreTechnology or IntegrationGeospatial data partner providing terrain and road condition data to enhance predictive maintenance models and improve emergency response routing.
• ClericcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party software supplier and host for the non-emergency patient transport service management system.
• Thames Valley and Surrey Health and Care Data PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-NHS organization partnership developing a local Secure Data Environment (SDE) for research. NHS organisations in Thames Valley and Surrey working together to securely store patient data for approved researchers.
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air AmbulancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAir ambulance service working within SCAS geographical area, partnering on the CABARET cardiac arrest research project.
• Thames Valley Air AmbulancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAir ambulance service operating within SCAS area, collaborating on the CABARET cardiac arrest research study.
• University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPEEEDY stroke pathway research partner; thrombectomy-capable hospital receiving direct admissions from SCAS for suspected stroke patients in Hampshire.
• Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for public stroke awareness events; John Radcliffe Hospital is thrombectomy-capable destination for SPEEDY pathway in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire areas.
• South Central Regional Research Delivery NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional research delivery network supporting CEDAR community engagement initiative to bring research into underserved communities.
• Membership Engagement Services Limited (MES)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThird-party provider hosting and processing online membership forms for Foundation Trust public constituency.
• Team PreventminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOccupational health provider carrying out health evaluations for CFR applicants and staff.
• Atlantic DataminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCriminal records check service via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for staff and volunteer screening.
• Optima HealthminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOccupational health provider for honorary worker health assessments.
• Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Kirubananthan Nagaratnam serves as clinical lead for stroke medicine; Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Stroke Delivery Network partner.
• Fawley Parish CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal council sponsoring and hosting annual Gang Warily Emergency Services Day event.
• Thames Valley PoliceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolice partnership for community events including Anti-Knife Crime Community Football Match.
• ExxonMobil FawleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Gang Warily Emergency Services Day event.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Doccla: UK-based virtual ward and remote patient monitoring provider working with the NHS. Adjacent peer in pre-hospital and post-acute care, with a different technology-led model but shared NHS commissioning context and patient transport adjacencies.

Broad incumbents

• St John Ambulance: UK-wide first aid and volunteer ambulance charity providing event cover, community first aid training, and emergency response support. Comparable as a private/voluntary EMS provider but operates as a national charity rather than a commissioned NHS trust.
• Falck A/S: Danish-headquartered private ambulance and emergency services operator with global operations including in the UK. Comparable in providing contract and interfacility EMS, but as a private-sector international player rather than a public commissioner.

Direct peers

• London Ambulance Service NHS Trust: The UK's largest NHS ambulance service, operating 999 and 111 services across London. Same statutory framework, same core product set, and comparable integration of emergency and urgent care services.
• South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust: Sister NHS ambulance trust covering Surrey, Kent, Sussex and parts of Hampshire, now sharing a Group Chief Executive with SCAS. Most direct peer — same model, same commissioner, same regulatory framework, and overlapping service territory.
• South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust: Another NHS ambulance foundation trust covering the South West of England, operating 999, NHS 111 and PTS services under the same statutory framework as SCAS. Closest UK peer in scale and integrated service model.
• North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust: One of the larger NHS ambulance trusts, serving the North West of England with 999, NHS 111, and patient transport services. Direct UK peer in service portfolio and operating model.
• East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust: NHS ambulance trust covering the East Midlands region, providing 999 emergency, NHS 111, and patient transport services. Direct UK peer with comparable geographic scope and service mix.
• Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust: NHS ambulance trust providing 999, NHS 111 and PTS across Yorkshire. Comparable in scale, integrated service offering, and statutory model to SCAS.

Peers

• Air Ambulance Charity (Hampshire & Isle of Wight):

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC58tlgillDAUA2gVGFNh78A
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/South-Central-Ambulance-Service-NHS-Foundation-Trust/253297878091272
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-central-ambulance-service-nhs-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/scas_999

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust