Martin Ball

10:00am – Tuesday 30th June (Day One) – Main Stage, Stratford Suite

Session Title – Designed for 20 Minutes, Used for 20 Hours

Session Bio – Most patient transport equipment is designed for short, acute journeys — yet clinicians are increasingly using it for transfers lasting many hours, sometimes across countries. Drawing on real-world international repatriation experience, this session explores how long-distance transport exposes hidden gaps in equipment design, pressure care, patient dignity, and clinician ergonomics. Through frontline stories and practical insight, the talk challenges the concept of the “standard ambulance” and argues for a more adaptable, patient-centred approach to transport equipment. Repatriation is not the exception — it is the stress test shaping the future of equipment services.

Martin Ball is Group Managing Director of UCS Care Group and a CQC Registered Manager with extensive experience across healthcare, emergency services, and complex patient transport. His background includes work as a paramedic, police officer, network engineer, and high-performance computing specialist, giving him a unique operational and systems-focused perspective. Martin leads international medical repatriations across the UK and Europe, specialising in complex long-distance patient transfers. He is also a Specialist Advisor to the CQC and is passionate about improving patient outcomes through innovation, governance, and practical frontline solutions.