Bristol ambulance firm facing collapse over £1m tax bill

A private ambulance company taking seriously ill and vulnerable patients across Bristol and the South West is facing the prospect of being wound up over more than £1m in alleged unpaid tax. The potential collapse of Bristol Ambulance EMS has raised concerns about patient safety and jobs. NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board said: "We ask patients to consider using family or alternative transport arrangements where possible." HM Revenue and Customs has presented a winding‑up petition against BAEMS Ltd, trading as Bristol Ambulance EMS. Company owner Shaun Pillinger said in a staff memo it was a "serious matter ... being actively managed". A hearing is due to be held to consider the winding-up petition on Wednesday 20 May. Bristol Ambulance EMS (BEMS) currently runs about 50 ambulances and patient transport vehicles each day, and is rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. Its role includes taking patients to appointments to have life‑saving treatment. In addition to routine patient transport, it provides specialist vehicles and staff for paediatric, neonatal and adult intensive care transfers across the South West, moving critically