West Midlands Ambulance Service staff to be given iPads to improve patient care

The cash which is part of a national roll-out will see all patient facing staff receiving one of the tablets, so they can access a patient's medical record while they are treating their patient.

While ambulance staff will always ask patients and their family about ongoing medical issues, the funding from NHSX will mean staff have individual access to the patients' care records which could potentially help save their life.

In addition, the technology will allow the staff to better support care, as well as increase the level of video conferencing with other healthcare professionals so that patients can be kept away from A&E unless it is absolutely necessary.

If taking a patient to hospital, the clinicians in A&E will be able to see real time updates on patients being bought in and patient detail handovers will occur digitally.

The project, which has been piloted in other areas of the country, has already shown that access to additional information and NHS systems improved decision making and ultimately care given.

West Midlands Ambulance Service chief executive, Anthony Marsh, said: "We have been using tablets and an electronic patient record for the last five years, but these iPads will take this to the next level with access to information that staff at the scene of an incident have not previously had access to.

Difference

“Already my staff access care records in about 60 per cent of cases but the personal issue iPads means that it will be even easier for the crew to see the patient’s history.

"This will allow staff to provide better care such as diverting more patients directly to where they may be getting ongoing specialist care instead of first taking them to A&E.

"In many cases we expect patients to be able to remain at home with additional support coming from primary care, which we know patients will feel happier about, particularly since the pandemic started.

“There is no question that technology is already making a huge difference to our work and this investment by NHSX will only enhance that.”

NHSX is working with trusts and Apple to ensure each device is set up to include information governance and IT security and an ongoing support package.

NHS chief executive, Sir Simon Stevens, added: “Ambulance crews have been at the forefront of the pandemic, routinely dealing with life and death situations and often first on scene to treat and diagnose critically ill patients.

“These devices are another tool for our highly skilled paramedics and ambulance technicians as they continue to respond to the country’s most critically ill and injured patients. It is another example of the health service innovating and harnessing technology to improve patient care as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.”