London Ambulance Service Bike Paramedics to Respond to Police Calls
FEB 8, 2016, EMS World
A three-month trial will allow paramedics on bicycles to monitor police calls for incidents they can attend, when they are not busy treating other patients.
“We are always looking for ways we can work more closely with our colleagues in other 999 services to help keep Londoners safe," said Paul Cook, General Manager Central Operations. "We hope this trial will help improve response times to emergency calls in the city and get care to those who need it. ”
The Service already has a paramedic in a car responding to police incidents in 12 London boroughs at peak times.
“We’ve been working with the City of London Police for over 10 years. Their cars and bikes are fitted with defibrillators and they are automatically alerted to patients in cardiac arrest,” said Cook.
The City of London Police will also be joining paramedics on observational shifts to learn more about how the Service operates.