The Ambulance Service
The police, ambulance and fire services are speeding through the night to get to the scene in time to save lives. Sirens roar, traffic moves hurriedly out of the way getting to where they need to be on time isn't just important, it's critical ICT systems don't just make life easier, they also help the Emergency Services to save lives.
The East midlands Ambulance service covers Leicestershire Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. A large area with some 70 ambulances permanently manned. There are also several A&E hospitals in the area so the problem of receiving details of an accident, sending an ambulance to it, then choosing the hospital to take the patient(s) to is complex. We all know or think we know how it's done, the radio operator takes a 999 call and verbally instructs the driver where to go. Well yes but no.
Much of the work is now done by a computer system it cost 49 million pounds so at that price it must be good. It was provided by Securicor Information Systems. The telephonist is operating a computer. The computer directs the telephonist as to which questions to ask for both for medical details and location. The computer prioritises the case and routes the ambulances to the site. In the Ambulance there is a GPS system to locate the ambulance and a road map on screen to tell the driver where to go. The latter is invaluable in the remoter parts of Derbyshire where farm tracks are used. A second monitor has a list of cases with details of the accident.
When the ambulance arrives details of the patient are typed in so that the receiving hospital knows what to expect. Much valuable time can be saved, for example a patient who will need blood can be asked his blood type and the hospital knows before he arrives. If an additional surgical team is required they can be called in whilst the patient is in transit.
The control room and the ambulance are linked by 2 radios. One links the computers at each location, this is the main system there is also a voice radio. As personal details of a patient are passed the messages are encrypted to comply with the DPA.
Similar systems are used by the police and fire service. Behind the scenes, these products ensure that vital procedures and administration tasks are implemented quickly and efficiently in the most demanding of environments.
Today, many of the 43 police forces throughout the UK will be turning to Securicor Information Systems for the implementation of applications that will enable them to manage and combat crime more effectively. These mission critical applications will be managed by Securicor Information Systems and provide police forces with a secure strategy.
The use of this ICT system is vital for the effectiveness of the service. It is a high end dedicated bespoke software and hardware system with many of the components specifically made for the client. It is for this reason and the fact that the system is life critical that is is so expensive.
© LEV
