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May 28, 2004 Improved Method of Call Out for BASICS Doctors

Following a meeting held at the new ambulance control in Edinburgh between Heads of the three new Ambulance Controls, Phil Spence (Scottish Ambulance Service, Director of Operations), Peter Joiner (Chairman, BASICS Scotland) and Colville Laird (Director of Education, BASICS Scotland) an exciting new development is being looked at with regard to call out of BASICS doctors. Many readers will already be aware that all ambulances in Scotland are fitted with an automatic vehicle location system, thus when an ambulance controller needs to despatch a vehicle they look at their computer screen and can see the location of available ambulances.

Calling out BASICS doctors has never been as easy, as the location and availability of the doctors is frequently unknown and communication with the doctor has frequently been by means of a bleep, which leave the ambulance controller uncertain as to whether the doctor has received the message. It is thus proposed that a system be set up for providing immediate care doctors with vehicle location systems. The system for recognising availability would be switching on and off the vehicle location system. Call out would be through mobile phones.

Funding for such a system will be reasonably expensive, but we feel that the benefits to everyone would be so significant as to make looking for funding worth while. We know that some Health Boards in Scotland are already looking at commissioning immediate care as an enhanced service, and it may well be that such Health Boards would be willing to buy this equipment. Hence, if you are interested in this system, or know of anywhere funding for the system could come from then please contact BASICS Scotland HQ., in Aberuthven.

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