First Care Ambulance
First Care Ambulance Limited is a UK-based, CQC-registered non-emergency patient transport provider serving NHS Trusts, ICBs and individual patients across the South West and wider UK with standard, high-dependency paramedic, neonatal/paediatric transport and Qualsafe-accredited first aid training.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersExeter, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What First Care Ambulance does
First Care Ambulance Limited is a private, Exeter-headquartered (UK) non-emergency patient transport provider founded in 1995, operating from offices in Exeter and Plymouth with a workforce of 101–250 staff. It runs three core transport service lines — Non-Emergency Patient Transport (including bariatric transfers up to 40 stone), Paramedic High Dependency intra/inter-hospital transfers staffed by HCPC-registered paramedics with Blue Light qualifications, and Neonatal & Paediatric transport using incubator POD systems — plus Qualsafe-accredited first aid training courses. Service is delivered UK-wide, with concentrations across NHS Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups/Integrated Care Boards in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and the wider South West.
Revenue is generated primarily through contract-based non-emergency patient transport services with NHS Trusts, ICBs and Clinical Commissioners (managed services), supplemented by direct private bookings from individual patients and recurring first aid training course fees (professional services). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; NHS contracts are negotiated at the regional procurement level while individual patient transport is quoted on enquiry. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales into NHS procurement frameworks, augmented by referrals and direct patient enquiry, with a digital footprint limited to a WordPress website and LinkedIn page.
The technology stack is operational rather than transformative: an industry-leading Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system accessed via Android devices for crew communications and journey audits, automated SMS patient alerts to reduce missed pick-ups, BambooHR for HR governance, the NHS Smartcard system for staff identity, and the Health Education England e-LfH platform for training. Compliance is anchored by a CQC registration with a GOOD rating across all areas (September 2022), Caldicott Guardian oversight, Data Protection Act 2018 compliance, and Carbon Positive certification through partnership with Earthly.
First Care Ambulance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Care Ambulance
- Legal name
- First Care Ambulance Limited
- Website
- https://firstcareambulance.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- First Care Ambulance Limited is a UK-based, CQC-registered non-emergency patient transport provider serving NHS Trusts, ICBs and individual patients across the South West and wider UK with standard, high-dependency paramedic, neonatal/paediatric transport and Qualsafe-accredited first aid training.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Care Ambulance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Medical Transportation Services
- NAICS
- Ambulance Services (62191), Ambulance Services (621910)
- 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 industry
- Medical Emergency Response & On-site First Aid/Paramedics (BPABANAG)
Keywords
Where First Care Ambulance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Exeter
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
First Care Ambulance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- NHS Patient Transport Contracts: Contract-based non-emergency patient transport services provided to NHS Trusts, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and Clinical Commissioners. Services are customised to suit local area requirements including hours of service, geographical area, and patient groups.
- Private/Individual Patient Transport: Transport services provided directly to individual patients for hospital appointments, discharges, and transfers.
- First Aid Training Courses: Accredited first aid training courses delivered by experienced training staff, accredited by Qualsafe. Courses run monthly from Exeter and Plymouth sites.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
First Care Ambulance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Care Ambulance provides non-emergency patient transport, high-dependency and inter-hospital transfers, and neonatal/paediatric transport services to NHS Trusts, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Integrated Care Boards and individual patients across the UK. The company also runs Qualsafe-accredited first aid training courses from its Exeter and Plymouth sites.
Product overview
First Care Ambulance provides a unified patient transport service with three core offerings: Non-Emergency Patient Transport (covering standard mobility needs and bariatric transfers), Paramedic High Dependency Patient Transport (for critically-ill and ICU patients requiring clinical monitoring), and Neonatal & Paediatric Transport (for premature infants using specialist incubator and POD systems). The company also offers First Aid Training as an additional service, accredited by Qualsafe. All services are delivered across the UK with a focus on NHS and healthcare sector clients, operating from bases in Exeter and Plymouth.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Non-Emergency Patient Transport
- Paramedic High Dependency (HD) Patient Transport
- Neonatal & Paediatric Transport
- First Aid Training
Quantifiable outcome
- 75,000 patient journeys per year
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use First Care Ambulance
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
First Care Ambulance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
First Care Ambulance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- North Devon District Healthcare NHS TrustcoreKey NHS partner where FCA team works alongside transport coordinator and Clinical Site Management Team, supporting patient flow and quality of care.
- NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning GroupcoreCommissioning partner where First Care Ambulance has shown commitment to patient safety and care with pragmatic, flexible and business-like working relationship.
- Royal Devon and Exeter HospitalcorePrimary NHS Trust partner in Devon for patient transport services.
- Plymouth Hospitals NHS TrustcoreNHS Trust partner for patient transport services in the Plymouth area.
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS TrustcoreNHS Trust partner in Cornwall for patient transport services.
- Northern Devon Healthcare NHS TrustcoreNHS Trust partner for patient transport services in Northern Devon.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
First Care Ambulance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ERS Medical: UK private ambulance and patient transport provider delivering non-emergency, high dependency and specialist transport services to the NHS. Closely aligned business model with First Care, competing for similar ICB commissioning contracts.
- Falck UK: Falck operates ambulance and patient transport services across the UK, including NHS non-emergency transport contracts. Highly comparable as a private-sector competitor bidding for the same NHS Trust and ICB patient transport contracts as First Care.
- Specialist Services Group (SSG): UK provider of specialist patient transport, high dependency and bariatric services to the NHS. Comparable in offering high-acuity transport niches (HD, bariatric) that overlap with First Care's specialist portfolio.
- St John Ambulance: UK charity providing non-emergency patient transport, event medical cover, and ambulance services. Directly comparable to First Care as a UK-wide provider of patient transport and first aid/medical services to NHS and private customers.
Emerging players
- Prometheus Medical: UK provider of pre-hospital medical services, including specialist retrieval and event medical cover. Comparable in the high-acuity and specialist transport niche, with overlap in neonatal/HD patient movement capability.
Others
- Health Education England (e-Learning for Healthcare): NHS-linked e-learning platform used by First Care for staff development. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor; relevant as a context for the training infrastructure that underpins regulated ambulance services.
- Qualsafe Awards: UK awarding body for first aid and prehospital care qualifications. Connected to First Care as the accrediting body for its training courses, and indicative of the broader UK first aid training ecosystem in which First Care's add-on service competes.
Regional players
- North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust: Statutory NHS ambulance trust operating emergency and patient transport services in North West England. Comparable as a public-sector comparator for non-emergency patient transport scope, though First Care is a private contractor rather than a trust.
Broad incumbents
- G4S Patient Transport Services (now part of Mitie): G4S (now operated by Mitie) runs large-scale NHS non-emergency patient transport contracts across multiple regions. Comparable as a much larger incumbent private operator competing with First Care for major NHS commissioning contracts.
- Medical Services UK (DocGo UK operations): DocGo (formerly Ambulnz) is a publicly listed mobile health services provider with UK operations in non-emergency transport and community health. Comparable as a scaled, technology-enabled private ambulance/patient transport operator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
First Care Ambulance social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Care Ambulance compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
First Care Ambulance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Care Ambulance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
First Care Ambulance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Care Ambulance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about First Care Ambulance
What does First Care Ambulance do?
First Care Ambulance provides non-emergency patient transport, high-dependency and inter-hospital transfers, and neonatal/paediatric transport services to NHS Trusts, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Integrated Care Boards and individual patients across the UK. The company also runs Qualsafe-accredited first aid training courses from its Exeter and Plymouth sites.
Is First Care Ambulance a public or private company?
First Care Ambulance is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was First Care Ambulance founded?
First Care Ambulance was founded in 1995. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is First Care Ambulance based?
First Care Ambulance is headquartered in Exeter, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does First Care Ambulance make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. NHS Patient Transport Contracts are the primary driver. The others are private/Individual Patient Transport and first Aid Training Courses.
Who are First Care Ambulance's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ERS Medical, Falck UK, Specialist Services Group (SSG) and St John Ambulance. Prometheus Medical is listed as an emerging player. Others are Health Education England (e-Learning for Healthcare) and Qualsafe Awards. North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are G4S Patient Transport Services (now part of Mitie) and Medical Services UK (DocGo UK operations).
Does First Care Ambulance have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Care Ambulance.
What industry is First Care Ambulance in?
First Care Ambulance's product category is Medical Transportation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAGAC, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) & Ambulance Services, with a secondary code of BPABANAG, Medical Emergency Response & On-site First Aid/Paramedics. Its NAICS code is 62191 and its SIC code is 8000.