Ageing ambulance computers crash

Control centre staff have had to switch to pen and paper four times

A union has claimed lives could have been put at risk by computers at Sussex Ambulance Service repeatedly failing.

In the past few months, crews at its control room in Lewes have had to use felt tip pens and paper to operate the 999 service after computers crashed.

Chief executive Paul Sutton said they had been forced to switch to the manual system of working four times.

But Unison said it left crews unable to respond to emergencies as well as they could if computers were working.

Antiquated system

Spokesman David Davies said: "Obviously a computer controlling where you're able to identify the exact location of a vehicle via satellite technology is superior, and you're able to track vehicles to the second and within a few metres."

He added: "If performance is affected, as it must be, then there has to be an implication.

"It isn't just those life-threatening injuries and medical problems that are at risk, it's people who are injured and in pain who need to get to hospital as soon as possible.

"Any delay in getting an ambulance to a person goes against the cause."

Emergency calls

Mr Sutton said the problems were a sign that the technology was degrading.

"It is fairly antiquated and we do need to look at replacing our computer-aided despatch system," he said.

However, he said the manual system for despatching emergency ambulances was still safe and patient safety was not compromised.

"We continue to respond to emergency calls in exactly the same way as usual.

"We are actively working with our system providers to resolve these issues as soon as possible, but I'm confident that in the interim we are able to continue to deliver high levels of patient care," he said.

The Sussex Ambulance Service said during February it responded to 1,797 patients with immediately life-threatening conditions within the government's target of eight minutes (75.1%), compared to 1,652 during the same month last year (72.3%).