30 April 2008 09:08 Powering the paramedics – Central Networks offers aid to Gloucester’s Ambulance crews
Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is opening its Gloucester base to paramedics - improving response times for emergency patients and making life better for ambulance crews.
In a special trial, paramedics will be able to rest at the company's Gloucester base and use the Central Networks engineers' mess room.
Paramedics in the city often spend a great deal of their 12-hour shifts parked in a nearby lay-by so they are best placed to react quickly to emergencies and meet strict response targets for life-threatening incidents.
Lawrence Wall, Gloucester Delivery Centre Manager, said: "In many ways we are similar to the emergency services, in that we are providing a vital service to the Gloucestershire community. It's our job to keep the lights on and keep people's homes warm and we work 24 hours a day, seven days a week in all weathers to do that.
"We hope the agreement works well for both Central Networks and the Ambulance Service, and I would thank all the staff here at Gloucester for their help in getting it off the ground."
As well as parking more safely on site whilst waiting for emergency calls, the paramedics will be able to use mess room facilities. This will save them a 25 minute round trip back to their headquarters in Stavely - and ensure they're on hand to respond quicker to emergency calls in the area.
The idea grew from a conversation between Central Networks project manager Stuart Wilson and his wife Becky, herself an ambulance technician in Gloucester.
"These guys can sometimes spend hours on their own, in their vehicle. Having a depot in an ideal place where you have chance to have a coffee or use the toilet seemed a perfect solution for them."
Lindsay Perrin, Service Delivery manager for Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust added: "This co-operation will enable us to support crews and keep them refreshed and able to deal with their needs as well as the needs of patients."
Ends
Notes to editors:
- Central Networks brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
- Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.
For further information contact:
Andrew Barrow on 024 7618 3677