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A mobile ‘minor injuries unit’ that could revolutionise ambulance services is being trialled in a unique collaboration between South Western Ambulance Service personnel and Mercedes-Benz.
Based on a Long-bodied, high-roofed Mercedes Vito 109CDI van, the vehicle has been specially designed so that Emergency Care Practitioners (ECPs) can provide enhanced healthcare services to people in appropriate situations. It can also be deployed to provide minor surgery back-up, for example to revellers injured in late-night incidents in town centres.
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust is confident that the ECP vehicle, which is being piloted at Glastonbury Ambulance Station, will help prevent unnecessary hospital visits and thereby ease pressure on accident and emergency departments.
The ECP vehicle concept seeks to underpin the government initiative ‘Taking Healthcare to the Patient’. This report sets out how ambulance services can be shifted from focusing primarily on resuscitation, trauma and acute care, towards becoming the mobile health resource for the whole NHS – by taking healthcare to the patient in the community.
South Western Ambulance Service employs some 85 ECPs throughout Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and the Isles of Scilly, who presently use rapid response vehicles to reach patients.
The high-roofed Mercedes Vito was converted by Oughtred and Harrison, of Kingston-upon-Hull. Emergency Care Practitioner Mike Grey, who is using the vehicle, was heavily involved in the design process, to ensure that it is as well equipped as possible.
The vehicle is extensively kitted out with medical supplies, and fitted with specially adapted equipment to assist patient care.
“The ECP vehicle is a step up from a rapid response vehicle, but not as extensively equipped as a standard ambulance, and could form the blueprint for healthcare delivery by ambulance trusts,” says South Western Ambulance Service Fleet Manager Steve Chambers.
“Deploying ECP vehicles for minor injuries, for example, could become a common-sense alternative to taking patients in an ambulance to hospital, when those services could be better deployed on more urgent, serious cases.”
The Vito is the ‘baby’ of the Mercedes commercial vehicle range and offers a winning combination of reliability and economy, with industry-leading ‘whole-life’ costs. Smooth and comfortable to drive, it has standard safety specifications including the remarkable ESP® stability program and ABS anti-lock braking.
South Western Ambulance Service has also bought 13 more Mercedes Sprinter ambulances. Based on 4.6-tonne Sprinter 416CDI chassis cabs, with twin rear wheels, they are powered by 156hp five-cylinder turbo-diesel engines.
These latest front-line units replace older Sprinters that have been stood down. Their Finish-designed bodies – the first of their type in the UK – were fitted by AssetCo Papworth, of Cambridgeshire, and feature numerous improvements.
Two of the new Sprinters, which are deployed at the Trust’s headquarters at Sowton, in Exeter, are specially adapted to cater for patients up to 50 stone in weight. The remaining Sprinters are based at Exeter and Plymouth.
Mercedes-Benz has provided a comprehensive training programme to the South Western Ambulance Service’s mechanics, who will maintain the new vehicles in-house.
They will be supported by local dealer Commercial Motors (South-West), which has branches in Exeter, Plymouth, St Austell and Yeovil, as well as others in Avonmouth, Bristol and Chilcompton.
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Mr Chambers says: “Our previous Mercedes ambulances have proved popular with crews. Along with other staff, they provided critical feedback on modifications designed to enhance patient care and staff safety. After all, they have to work in the vehicles daily.
”Mercedes-Benz has listened attentively and responded to our recommendations positively. We will also have the reassurance of Commercial Motors’ back-up service.”
The Trust has also bought a further 12 ambulances, 24 rapid response vehicles and a 4x4 off-road vehicle for emergencies in rural areas as part of an ongoing investment programme in its front-line fleet.
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