Patients and staff across South East Coast, South Central and the Isle of Wight are set to benefit from a major investment in ambulance digital technology, after two ambulance trusts signed contracts for new 999, 111 and patient-record systems.
South East Coast Ambulance Service and South Central Ambulance Service, which now work together in a group model, have signed contracts with Cleric Computer Services Ltd. The contracts cover a new Computer Aided Dispatch system and an Electronic Patient Care Record system. The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service will also use both.
A common platform for urgent and emergency care
The new CAD and ePCR will update and replace existing 999, 111 and patient-record systems with a single shared platform. The trusts say this will support safer, more resilient and more integrated urgent and emergency care.
SECAmb currently runs an older version of Cleric's software. The new contract will move both trusts onto the latest version, improving resilience and service availability.
What will change?
The trusts say the upgrade will bring:
- improved workflow for 999 call handling
- better integration between 111, 999 and ePCR
- improved visibility across services
- improved clinical safety and governance
- improved cyber security compliance
- greater workforce flexibility across 111 and 999, and between trusts
- better reporting and analytics across both trusts
Simon Ashton, Group Chief Executive, said:
"This is a major step forward for both trusts which will bring direct benefits for our patients and staff. Among many benefits, it will support faster call handling and dispatch, improved clinical safety, and greater cyber security. It's a great example of where the group model is already helping us tackle big challenges in the most effective way."
Multi-year programme, completion by Spring 2029
The new systems represent a multi-million pound investment across the two trusts. Once in place, they will provide a stronger foundation for future service integration and digital development.
The upgrade is a multi-year programme, with full implementation across both trusts due to complete by Spring 2029.
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