NWAS predetermined attendance for Major Incidents
Manchester Arena Inquiry · Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · Issued 3 November 2022 · Addressed to: North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Government responseUK Government: Accepted (Nov 2025)
DeliveryCabinet Office says completed (Feb 2026)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
North West Ambulance Service should review its Major Incident Response Plan to consider whether it should be updated to include a pre-determined attendance for Major Incidents.
Manchester Arena Inquiry, Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · 3 Nov 2022 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
The Inquiry asked North West Ambulance Service to consider predetermined attendance for major incidents. In an update published by the Cabinet Office in February 2026, the trust stated that it had introduced a Predetermined Attendance (PDA) in January 2021 before the Inquiry's report was released, noting that this is mandated through its Incident Response Plan (IRP), embedded in annual commander training, displayed in the Emergency Operations Centre, and used effectively in exercises (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). Earlier, the UK Government recorded in November 2025 that the recommendation was accepted in full (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026.
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 completed · 27 Feb 2026
Before the Inquiry's Volume 2 report was released, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) introduced a Predetermined Attendance (PDA) in January 2021. A PDA is an advance agreement regarding what resources will need to be mobilised in the case of a major incident. PDA is mandated through the Incident Response Plan (IRP), annual commander training and visually displays through the Emergency Operations Centre. This has been used in recent exercises and shown to be effective.
Earlier statements on delivery (0)
●Cabinet Office · 14 Nov 2025
Before the Inquiry's Volume 2 report was released, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) introduced a Predetermined Attendance (PDA) in January 2021. A PDA is an advance agreement regarding what resources will need to be mobilised in the case of a major incident. PDA is mandated through the Incident Response Plan (IRP), annual commander training and visually displays through the Emergency Operations Centre. This has been used in recent exercises and shown to be effective.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Published evidence
●JESIP · 1 Apr 2024
JESIP Joint Doctrine updated to v3.1 (April 2024) following inquiry findings on interoperability failures. Operation Plato reformed to cover all terrorist attack types, not just firearms. Emphasis extended beyond command-level to frontline responders.
JESIP Joint Doctrine Version 3.1, April 2024View source →
How this page is built
The recommendation and the government responses are verbatim from primary documents. Delivery statements and other bodies' findings are shown in their own words, each with its source. The summary is written by this site and labelled as such. The Index does not paraphrase sources or characterise intent; it records what has been published.