999 response time shortened with launch of new cars

Posted: October 20, 2013

Posted in: Personal Injury 

After East Midlands Ambulance Service was fined £3.5m in May for failing to meet national target response times, a fleet of new cars has been launched to significantly shorten response times and save lives. With the national target aiming for 95% of life-threatening emergencies to be reached within 19 minutes, the East Midlands Ambulance Service failed to meet this target by over 3% in 2012-13. 

Earlier in the month the EMAS launched a campaign by putting adverts on their vehicles to warn people about making unnecessary 999 calls, arguing that unnecessary phone calls was putting the service under great pressure. Out of the 616,000 emergency calls taken in 2012-13, only about 40% were for life-threatening accidents. The campaign was to educate people on what problems should be handled by phoning 999.

Vehicles contain defibrillators and 2-way radios

The fleet of five community first response cars will allow trained volunteers to immediately help patients after the 999 call has been made, providing basic medical attention before frontline paramedics arrive. The cars will be based in Castle Donington, Leicestershire; Beeston and Mansfield in Nottinghamshire; and Matlock in Derbyshire. Each car will be equipped with medical equipment, (including defibrillators) communications, (including two-way radios, a telephone, and a hands-free kit) and also a satellite navigation system.  

When questioned about the launch of these new vehicles, the EMAS chairman, Jon Tower, said that he hoped the launch of the new vehicles would help provide “an excellent service to the people of the East Midlands”.

If you have sustained a personal injury that was not your fault, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us. 

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