Under the new contract, O2 will provide a national digital radio and communications system for England’s NHS ambulance trusts in an effort to speed ambulance response times and to improve care delivery at the scene.
According to reports, the agreement is part of the UK government’s plans to create a single network for emergency services in the event of a disaster, which was devised in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks in the US and no doubt encouraged by the recent London bombings.
O2 says the new digital radio service will replace the existing systems used by ambulance services with enhanced voice and data services that will improve the communication and inter-operability with other emergency services and each other. Paramedics and control room operators will also be able to talk directly with police at the scene of an incident when it is operationally beneficial.
O2 Airwave is working with SunGard Vivista to supply products such as radio terminals to paramedics and ambulance staff, migrate existing mobile data applications to work on the new digital network and provide Integrated Communications Control Systems (ICCS) for all dispatch centres.
Ambulance trusts are expected to begin implementing the new system from the middle of 2006, with a full roll out scheduled by the end of 2008.
The Hereford & Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust and the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service have already deployed the system, while O2 says it is still waiting on a decision from ambulance trusts in Scotland and Wales.
The new contract comes after the successful deployment rollout of an O2 Airwave network for police forces in England, Scotland and Wales this year. However, O2 is thought to be experienced a setback on the creation of a similar network for the UK Fire Service due to disagreements about the centralization of fire service control rooms.
