Vodafone UK announced today that it is to provide South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) with mobile devices and a bespoke app to improve efficiency and response times for its 1,200 Community First Responders (CFRs) and Co Responders (Police, Fire & Military) in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Hampshire. CFRs and Co Responders are volunteers trained to attend medical emergencies and start lifesaving interventions prior to the arrival of an ambulance. These interventions can have a significant positive impact on patient outcomes.
The Vodafone solution includes a bespoke app and the provision of mobile devices with 4G connectivity, which can be securely managed, protecting patient information. To date, 350 mobile devices are in operation across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, with a further 210 to be issued over the coming weeks.
The bespoke app, developed in partnership with CommonTime, enables simple and reliable communication between the Community First Responders and their office-based control centre – the Clinical Coordination Centre.
Community First Responders can log in and report that they are available to respond. When an incident occurs, the closest available responder will be alerted and provided with the exact location, fastest route and incident details. On arrival, they can share critical information about the incident and request additional support from the emergency services. For their safety, CFRs are tracked at all times through GPS.
Nic Morecroft, Head of Operations – Community Engagement & Training, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We recognise there is a huge opportunity to improve patient care using digital technology. Our partnership with Vodafone highlights how implementing technology solutions can have an immediate and real impact on the service we offer to patients. We have already seen improved efficiencies and feedback from our first responders has been extremely positive.”
Anne Sheehan, Enterprise Director from Vodafone UK said: “We are delighted to be working with the South Central Ambulance Service to help improve response times for this critical service, and ultimately patient care. We will be working together to identify other areas where we can use the power of technology to bring benefits to both Community First Responders and patients.”
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