Ambulance service stands by at Holly House
Vital minutes could be saved by paramedics responding to emergency calls in West Essex thanks to a new initiative between the East of England Ambulance Service and Holly House Hospital.
The East of England Ambulance Service are basing one of their paramedic rapid-response vehicles at the hospital. As well as patients benefiting from a faster response, it also means that the paramedics will have somewhere safe and with suitable facilities to use as a base between emergency calls rather than standing-by in a lay-by.
East of England Ambulance Service General Manager, Alan Westrip, said: “We have standby arrangements with many organisations which enable us to be nearer patients whilst also ensuring our staff have a safe, comfortable location between call outs. It means that a vehicle can be on permanent standby in the area, seven days a week and for patients suffering life-threatening conditions, such as heart attacks, saving vital seconds can literally save lives.”
The new arrangement means that within eight minutes of a 999 call being received the paramedic rapid-response vehicle can cover the majority of the Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell areas. Jackie Row, Holly House Hospital Director, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this facility for both our colleagues in the ambulance service and the local community as a whole.”
Date: 21/03/2011
