This volume provides fresh insights and management understanding of the changing role of the ambulance services against the backdrop of massive cuts in health budgets around the world and the changing context of pre-hospital care within the wider healthcare networks. The challenges of funding, training and cultural transformation are now felt globally. The book offers critical insights into the theory and practice of strategic and operational management of ambulance services and the leadership needs for the service. One of the highlight of this volume is to bring together scholarship using experts- academics, practitioners and professionals in the field, to each of the chosen topics. The chapters are based in the practical experiences of the authors and are written in a way that is accessible and suitable for a range of audiences. We are confident that this book will cater to a wider audience to inform policy and practice, both in the UK and internationally.

Introduction and summary. - Historical perspective. - Management of clinical risk. - Multi-agency cooperation and interoperability. - Ambulance cultures. - Leadership development. - Management of logistics (emergency and patient transports services). - Dealing with emergencies. - Dealing with equality, diversity, and multiculturalism. - Ethical perspectives. - Dealing with the challenge of austerity. - International case study. - International perspectives on North America, Europe, and Australasia. - Future scenarios¿