Unmarked road ambulance vehicles

Summary

A request was made regarding the purchase, cost, and allocation of unmarked Volvo cars for the Isle of Man road ambulance service. Manx Care disclosed that two vehicles were purchased in 2024 for management command roles, but stated that specific cost and modification data is held by the Department of Infrastructure (DOI).

Key Facts

• No unmarked Volvo cars were purchased in the 2025 financial year.
• Two unmarked Volvo cars were purchased in 2024.
• The vehicles are allocated to the management team for command roles and on-call duties.
• The cars are modified with blue light fitments.
• Total purchase costs and modification costs are held by the DOI shared fleet services, not Manx Care.

Data Disclosed

• 2025
• 2024
• 2 vehicles
• 0 vehicles (in 2025)
• 4798461
• 15 July 2025
• 16 July 2025

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held by the public authority

Original Request

1. How many unmarked Volvo cars have been purchased for the road ambulance service in this financial year? Or any other financial years? a. What was the total cost for these purchases? b. Were special modifications required to these vehicles to make them compliant within the service? How much extra did this cost per vehicle? c. What was the reason that the Road Ambulance service needed these vehicles? Why are the vehicles unmarked? 2. How are these vehicles allocated within the service; either personally or within sectors of the service? a. If personally used, then who are they allocated to or partly used by? Why is an unmarked car required? b. If the cars are part of the Road Ambulance fleet then are they being maintained with fuel from the DOI depot? c. If response to 2a. and 2b. are yes, then are the personal using them reporting the portion of personal use to the Income Tax authorities?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000

Our ref: 4798461 16 July 2025

Dear

We write further to your request, received 15 July 2025, which states:

"1. How many unmarked Volvo cars have been purchased for the road ambulance service in this financial year? Or any other financial years?

a. What was the total cost for these purchases?

b. Were special modifications required to these vehicles to make them compliant within the service? How much extra did this cost per vehicle?

c. What was the reason that the Road Ambulance service needed these vehicles? Why are the vehicles unmarked?

1. How are these vehicles allocated within the service; either personally or within sectors of the service?

a. If personally used, then who are they allocated to or partly used by? Why is an unmarked car required?

b. If the cars are part of the Road Ambulance fleet then are they being maintained with fuel from the DOI depot?

c. If response to 2a. and 2b. are yes, then are the personal using them reporting the portion of personal use to the Income Tax authorities?"

Response While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. It is suggested that the information is likely to be held by DOI and we suggest that you contact them to get the information. I have detailed below the information that is held. 1. How many unmarked Volvo cars have been purchased for the road ambulance service in this financial year? Or any other financial years?
No vehicles were purchased in 2025, 2 vehicles were purchased in 2024. Cars within the ambulance service are replaced on a rotational basis.

a. What was the total cost for these purchases?
This information is not held by the ambulance service department. Please contact the DOI shared fleet services for this information. b. Were special modifications required to these vehicles to make them compliant within the service? How much extra did this cost per vehicle?
The vehicles are modified to have a blue light fitment. The cost of this is not held by the ambulance service department. Please contact the DOI shared fleet services for this information. c. What was the reason that the Road Ambulance service needed these vehicles? Why are the vehicles unmarked?
The cars are for members of the management team who undertake command roles and who may be on call out of hours, this allows them to have freedom of movement. We have always had unmarked vehicles within the ambulance service.
2. How are these vehicles allocated within the service; either personally or within sectors of the service?
The Volvos are currently within the management team. a. If personally used, then who are they allocated to or partly used by? Why is an unmarked car required?
Cars are not for personal use. Having unmarked cars is standard practice across the industry and allows those who take command roles to and who are on call to have freedom of movement.
b. If the cars are part of the Road Ambulance fleet then are they being maintained with fuel from the DOI depot?
Yes, they are government vehicles and as such are maintained and fuelled by the DOI
c. If response to 2a. and 2b. are yes, then are the personnel using them reporting the portion of personal use to the Income Tax authorities?
As the answer to 2a and 2b are no, this is not applicable. Please quote the reference number 4798461 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

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An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are

dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely