Ambulex is on the move.

Ambulex is the premier event in the UK, supporting the NHS, Private and Volunteer Ambulance Services and attracting senior ambulance managers and staff, the industry's decision makers.

Ambulex 2013 (www.ambulex.co.uk) will be celebrating its 5th birthday when this year's event returns to a July date following discussions with exhibitors concerning the crowded exhibition calendar. But that's not all that's changing at Ambulex this year. Event organiser Mike Phillips explains.
"We want Ambulex to be a worthwhile and beneficial experience for as wide a range of attendees as possible. So, with one eye to the future, we have made a few fundamental changes to this year's event.

Firstly Ambulex 2013 is moving from its former venue at Morton in Marsh. We have chosen a superb new location, the Ricoh Arena in Coventry which is a world class destination for business, sport and entertainment. The exhibition will be held in the prestigious Jaguar Exhibition Hall, one single large hall containing all exhibitors. As part of the Arena, the exhibition hall is connected to the 4* accommodation of the De Vere hotel. For on-site entertainment there is, Singers Bar and restaurant and the G Casino, restaurant and Lady G`s bar (the largest casino in the UK). In addition there is a Business Centre and cash point. The venue is centrally located just off the M6, at Junction 3, 15 minutes from Birmingham International Airport and 70 minutes by train from London. There is also on-site
car parking for 2000 cars.

Secondly we have decided to broaden the range of vehicles and associated exhibitors. We recognise that some of the biggest as well as the smallest providers of patient care within the health service are ambulance services. Whether it's one of the 10 NHS services that cover the whole of England or perhaps an independent provider with just one or two vehicles they share one thing in common. They each need the right vehicle and the right equipment to meet the patients needs when and where its required and increasingly they rely upon collaboration to provide the full range of services. That's why the opportunity to meet with their peers and the manufacturers of vehicles and equipment is an important part of the annual calendar not just for senior ambulance service personnel but also for clinicians, commissioners, operations managers, fleet managers, NHS policy makers and others with responsibility for the movement of patients.

Whereas before we have focused more on the ambulance services 999 function, this year we will still see accident and emergency ambulances, rapid response vehicles and patient transport vehicles but for the first time we will also have manufacturers of easy access vehicles and vehicles for those with special needs. We see this as a natural extension and believe it recognises that those people in health care or those with responsibility for patient transport, are likely to have the challenge of providing for the needs of a diverse range of people.

Finally we believe that the exhibition will benefit from having a limited number of external guest speakers. We do not intend to risk a conflict between speakers and exhibitors, it remains an exhibition first and foremost, but we know from experience that we attract excellent delegates who enjoy to engage in debate on topical issues. This year we hope to have some invited speakers to help us raise our vision to some of the opportunities and challenges that might lay ahead."