Patients and staff across South East Coast, South Central, and the Isle of Wight ambulance services are set to benefit from a major investment in modernising digital systems.
South East Coast and South Central ambulance services, now working together in a group model, have signed contracts with Cleric Computer Services Ltd to provide new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Electronic Patient Care Record (ePCR) systems. Both systems will also be used by the Isle of Wight Ambulance service.
The new CAD and ePCR will update and replace 999, 111 and patient-record systems with a common platform, supporting safer, more resilient and integrated urgent and emergency care.
Group Chief Executive, Simon Ashton, 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.”
The benefits
The change of system will improve resilience and service availability. SECAmb currently use an older version of Cleric’s software and the new contract will move both trusts onto the very latest version, bringing significant benefits, including:
- Improved workflow for 999 call handling
- Better integration between 111, 999, ePCR
- Improved visibility across services
- Improved clinical safety and governance
- Improved cyber security compliance
- Enabling greater workforce flexibility across 111 and 999, and between trusts
- Better reporting and analytics across the trusts.
The new systems represent a multi-million pound investment across the two trusts. Once implemented the new systems 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 to complete by Spring 2029.