Cross-border ambulance training and exercising
Manchester Arena Inquiry · Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · Issued 3 November 2022 · Addressed to: Ambulance Services
Government responseUK Government: Accepted (Nov 2025)
DeliveryCabinet Office says in progress (Feb 2026)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
All ambulance service trusts should undertake training and exercising with neighbouring ambulance service trusts to ensure that cross-border support is efficient and effective.
Manchester Arena Inquiry, Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · 3 Nov 2022 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
The Cabinet Office reported in February 2026 that implementation was in progress, noting that mutual aid is already a specific requirement for interoperable capabilities within the NHS emergency preparedness framework (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The department added in February 2026 that further work remained to specifically include training and exercising with neighbouring organisations for wider responders, with exercising to be incorporated into plans covered by emergency core standards assured annually by NHS trusts (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026.
About this summary
Government response
●UK Government · Accepted · 14 Nov 2025
Accepted in full
Response document: Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations (GOV.UK page linking to the Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard)
Delivery
●Cabinet Office says in progress · 27 Feb 2026
Mutual aid is a specific requirement for the interoperable capabilities (Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) and Special Operations Response Team (SORT)) and is included in the NHS Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (EPRR) Framework. Further work is to be undertaken to specifically include training and exercising with neighbouring organisations in the requirements for the wider responders. Exercising will be incorporated on an ongoing basis into specific plans that are covered by the NHS Core Standards for Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (EPRR). NHS Trusts are required to provide assurance on an annual basis to NHS England.
Earlier statements on delivery (0)
●Cabinet Office · 14 Nov 2025
Mutual aid is a specific requirement for the interoperable capabilities (Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) and Special Operations Response Team (SORT)) and is included in the NHS Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (EPRR) Framework. Further work is to be undertaken to specifically include training and exercising with neighbouring organisations in the requirements for the wider responders. Exercising will be incorporated on an ongoing basis into specific plans that are covered by the NHS Core Standards for Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (EPRR). NHS Trusts are required to provide assurance on an annual basis to NHS England.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
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