NIAS Regional Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre opens at Knockbracken[27/05/08 @ 19:30]

The Minister for Health, Mr Michael McGimpsey, MLA, officially opened the Regional Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre (REMDC), on Wednesday 14th May 2008, at the headquarters of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) at Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Belfast. Prior to 2006, NIAS operated from 4 Control Centres in Altnagelvin, Belfast, Craigavon and Antrim. However the Strategic Review into Ambulance Services in 2000 had advocated that this area of ambulance operations should be brought together on one site. Considerable investment in estate, systems and training has ensured people of Northern Ireland are provided with the most efficient pre-hospital care at the precise moment of contact with the service.

Medical Priority Dispatch
A medical priority dispatch system ensures that ambulances are targeted at those calls which demand immediate response. Additionally, NIAS Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMD’s) will ask appropriate questions to ensure that the appropriate response is provided. The system also enables the EMD’s to provide medical advice “down the line” whilst the ambulance is en-route to the call. Geographical Information Systems have been introduced to ensure that the nearest available ambulance is sent to an incoming emergency. Screens in the REMDC track the movements of vehicles and provide the staff in the centre with the most up to date information on the location of vehicles.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister acknowledged that the new centre was “an important step forward in the wider programme of modernisation and reform currently underway within the ambulance service”. Mr McGimpsey continued “we must continue to press ahead with modernisation and reform to make sure that the people of Northern Ireland have an ambulance service which can meet their needs now and in the future; a service which provides the best possible standards of pre-hospital care.

Investment
To support this work and further improvement, I have made available some £14.5 million capital funding and £9 million additional revenue funding for NIAS over the next three years.” During his visit Mr McGimpsey paid tribute to ambulance staff both on the front-line and in the control room. He said “We all know that there are particular challenges in the provision of pre-hospital care – front-line staff don’t have the benefit of knowing exactly when and where their services will be required or what circumstances will greet them when they arrive. Yet they do arrive, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, often faced with the most difficult circumstances and conditions.

"And the reason they do reach the people who need help urgently is because of the professionalism of the staff in the ambulance control room. The work of saving lives starts immediately the control room answer the next emergency call.”

Life Saving
The NIAS Chief Executive, Mr Liam McIvor, echoed these sentiments and gave examples of when lives had been saved because of the advice that was provided on the phone while the caller waited for the ambulance crew to arrive. He too was fulsome in his praise for all staff that work for NIAS but on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland. He pointed out that the investment in the control centre and associated systems brought NIAS to at least a par with the best services in the UK, and ahead of many others. Excellence in clinical care is our main aim but getting there quicker allows this care to be provided sooner which is ultimately to the benefit of the patient.

Mr Douglas Smyth, Chairman of NIAS Trust, in his remarks thanked the DHSSPS, regional health boards, Health Estates and the technical suppliers and builders who have worked with us throughout this project. He also offered his thanks to the managers within the organisation for their support and advice and, just as importantly, “the despatch staff themselves for their co-operation, commitment and enthusiasm in embracing the new thinking”.

The Northern Ireland Health Committee visits NIAS[27/05/08 @ 19:30]

The visit by the Minister follows on the heels of one by the Health Committee earlier in the month.

The committee were welcomed by the Chairman of the Trust Board, Mr Douglas Smyth and by the Chief Executive, Mr Liam McIvor.

After a brief presentation by Mr McIvor, the Committee members were afforded the opportunity to raise issues on the future direction of the Trust and future plans for ambulance provision. A somewhat lively and informative question and answer session took place.

The party were then given a guided tour of the building where they witnessed at first hand the day to day operations in the modern command and control centre along with training of paramedics and ambulance control staff. The Emergency Planning Department demonstrated the equipment at their disposal for use in CBRN incidents.

Mrs Iris Robinson, Chairperson of the Committee, was paid tribute to the staff who provide ambulance services throughout Northern Ireland, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

Belfast Lord Mayor visits Belfast Area HQ[27/05/08 @ 19:30]

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Jim Rogers, has pledged his support to all emergency crews working in the Belfast area and beyond.

In a visit to the Belfast Area Headquarters of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, planned before the recent attacks on fire crews, the Lord Mayor thanked the operational crews and support staff who provide ambulance services to the people of Belfast on a 24/7 basis.

Addressing the issue of attacks on emergency crews, he said; “Today I have seen how this organisation works together as a team to provide this vital service. It is a shame that a small minority of people think it is ok to attack those who provide these life saving skills. I can assure you that for the rest of my term as first citizen and as a public representative you will have my support against such behaviour”.

The Lord Mayor was welcomed to the HQ site at Broadway ambulance station by the Area Manager, Mr Gary Richardson. On his guided tour he was shown many facets of the work of the ambulance service from training to preparedness for CBRN incidents.

Opening of St John Ambulance Station, Brackenvale Business Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast – 29 April 2008[14/05/08 @ 16:30]

On 29 April 2008, Mr Liam McIvor, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance was proud to be the privileged guest of the Trustees of St John Ambulance in Northern Ireland to formally open their new ambulance station at Brackenvale Business Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast.

The 400 square metre Ambulance Station will house the Belfast Headquarters Transport Division of St John. The division has a fleet of six accident and emergency ambulances, which are manned by 30 volunteers.

The event was attended by many St John Ambulance personnel and external guests. Guests were warmly welcomed by Mr John Hughes, Commander St John Ambulance followed by opening remarks from Mr John Amos, Superintendant. The plaque was then formally unveiled by Mr Liam McIvor, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

An inspection of members and ambulances was also undertaken by Mr McIvor accompanied by Superintendent Amos, Commander Hughes and Deputy Area Commissioner.

At the opening, Mr McIvor commented: "It is an honour and a privilege to be invited to perform this opening. We have a strong history of working together which I know will be strengthened in the future. I wish St John Ambulance well in their new station".

Criticism Of Fleet - NIAS response[02/05/08 @ 18:30]

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service operates a fleet of 307 vehicles, including 132 Accident and Emergency ambulances. The NIAS fleet covers in excess of 5 million miles per year. NIAS reports to the Department of Health on the percentage of vehicles that are more than 5 years old.

Currently 55.3% of our fleet exceeds this 5 year threshold.

NIAS has submitted to the DHSSPS its fleet strategy and an accompanying business case for a rolling fleet replacement programme will be ready for presentation this month. In the meantime NIAS will continue to work with the fleet at its disposal.

We continue to manage the fleet ensuring that regular maintenance work is carried out and that unplanned breakdowns are dealt with as quickly as possible.

Whilst the situation is less than ideal, it is important that a context is set. In 2007/08 NIAS responded to 111,000 emergency calls which was an increase of 8% on 2006/07. NIAS also improved its response performance by reaching 69% of Category A (immediately life threatening) calls within the 8 minute target in February 2008, compared to a performance of 55% in 2006/07.

NIAS is appreciative of the efforts of all staff in getting to patients as quickly as possible in what are sometimes difficult circumstances.

NIAS remains committed to providing the highest quality of pre hospital care to all who are in need of our service and this includes ensuring that vehicles are kept in as good a condition as possible.

For further information contact:

John McPoland
Communications/Information Officer
NIAS Trust HQ
Knockbracken Healthcare Park
Saintfield Road
Belfast
BT8 8SG

Tel: 02890 400999