Ambulance services get digital radios

 The Department of Health has awarded a contract for a new digital radio and communication system for all NHS ambulance trusts in England, which will provide ambulance service staff with better communications, particularly when responding to critical incidents such as the 7 July London bomb attacks.

The new digital radio service will replace the existing analogue systems currently in use by ambulance services. 

Ambulance trusts equipped with digital radio services will see significant benefits in better signal quality and increased communications capacity, together with improved inter-operability with other emergency services and other ambulance crews and paramedics.

Ambulance trusts will start taking delivery of the new radio systems from mid-2006 and full ‘roll-out’ will be completed by the end of 2008. The Airwave system is already in use by 51 police forces in England, Scotland and Wales

O2 Airwave network has been awarded a contract worth £390m over the next 13 years to deliver digital communications systems to all English NHS Ambulance services. Airwave is already being used at the Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust and the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service.

Health Minister Lord Warner said: "The ambulance service has made excellent improvements in patient care over the last few years. It is essential that ambulance crews have the best equipment to back them up."

"This new digital system will provide a more reliable service and will help bring further improvements to patient care," added Lord Warner.

Digital radio will provide paramedics and control room operators with improved communications with other emergency services, and will also ensure there will be better coverage for hand-portable radios and in rural areas.

As part of the ambulance service’s switch to digital control room equipment will be upgraded, and trusts will receive modern integrated dispatch systems.

The award of the ambulance digital radio contract has been delayed several times over the past couple of years. Roll out of the new national system was originally due to have begun by the end of 2004.