West Midland Ambulance Service upgrades network

West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has implemented a fully managed private network from Telewest Business, which for the first time connects its operational ambulance stations and district headquarters.

The new network will underpin the modernisation of WSAS’s communications and also support new e-learning applications to equip paramedics with information to enhance public services.

The managed private IP network replaces leased line circuits from BT. With the new network in place each ambulance station will have access to 2MB of bandwidth. In addition the WMAS will have the flexibility to secure additional bandwidth to react quickly in the event of a major incident and setup an emergency command and control centre.

In the future paramedics will also have access to information relating to patients such as drugs that need to be recalled and operational applications, including a drugs database to improve the control of supplies – currently in its pilot phase.

"Communication needs to be at the heart of any modern ambulance service and the Telewest Business network will underpin our strategic decisions for the next three to five years,” said Ian Mason, IT manager, WMAS.

Mason added: “Modernising our corporate communications and ensuring our paramedics have the information they need at their finger tips is a crucial element of WMAS’ commitment to putting patients first."

“The deployment of the Telewest Business network will help the ambulance service meet current needs while giving the WMAS the flexibility to evolve its corporate network to react quickly to explore future communication possibilities,” said Christopher Small, Telewest’s director for public sector.

The WMAS provides emergency cover for 3.2 million people, NHS Direct and non-emergency services to others, and the County Air Ambulance to 7.8 million. In 2003-2004, with urgent calls from Doctors included, an average of 1,070 cases per day were handled throughout the year in the West Midlands.