The Department of Health announced on 19 July 2005 that it had signed a contract for use of the network to provide a new digital radio and communications system for NHS ambulance trusts . It is worth £390m over the next 13 years.
The new digital radio service will replace the existing analogue systems currently used by ambulance trusts. The DoH said it would improve the quality and capacity of trusts' networks, and interoperability with other emergency services and each other. Airwave is currently used by 51 police forces in England, Scotland and Wales. A procurement exercise is currently underway to procure updated communication systems for the fire and rescue service.
Health minister Lord Warner said: "This new digital system will provide a more reliable service and will help bring further improvements to patient care.
"Peter Bradley's recent review of ambulance services in England has given us the framework for a 21st century service. We are determined to deliver this through new roles for staff, improved training, and better technology."
O2 Airwave and SunGard Vivista will supply a range of products and services under the contract. These include radio terminals for paramedics and ambulance staff, migrating existing mobile data applications to work on the new digital network, and providing integrated communications control systems for all dispatch centres.
The DoH has highlighted three expected improvements from the new communications system:
- Paramedics and control room operators will have improved communications with other emergency services.
- There will be better coverage for hand-portable radios and in rural areas.
- Control room equipment will be upgraded, providing all trusts with modern integrated dispatch systems.
O2 Airwave said the digital network will feed equipment onboard the ambulances with the incident location coordinates, details about the patient, nature of the incident and other free text information. It will also enable paramedics to transmit an emergency patient health record, including patient vital signs and electrocardiogram rhythms, ahead to the receiving hospital. It can also be used to provide direct access to a variety of databases such as patient care protocols, bed status or accident and emergency capacity.
Ambulance trusts will start taking delivery of the new radio systems from mid 2006 and the full roll out is scheduled for the end of 2008.
Airwave is already being used at the Hereford & Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust and the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service. Both organisations have reported improvements in patient care, according to the DoH.
Quelle: KableNET, 20.07.2005
