Satellite units 'save lives'

The crew is guided by satellite to the emergency

The Royal Berkshire Ambulance Trust has become one of the first services in the south to install satellite navigation systems in all its emergency vehicles.

It means that within seconds of a 999 call being made, all details of an emergency are sent to the nearest ambulance.

A satellite mapping system then guides the crew to the location.

Forty four satellite units have been fitted to the trust's emergency ambulances, including its rapid response units and off-road vehicles.

Royal Berkshire Ambulance Trust chief executive Keith Nuttall said: "This new system will allow vital seconds to be saved when responding to locations, especially in rural areas.

"This exciting new system will help save lives and reduce the burden of trying to locate hard to find incidents."