South Central Ambulance Service

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS)  – http://www.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk/

SCAS provide Accident and Emergency service on the “999” system to around 4 million people in an area of approximately 3,500 square miles, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For the most life threatening calls, we have to meet Government targets of attendance in your home or place of work within 8 minutes. We also operate the NHS “111” service providing non-emergency service as an integrated platform alongside “999”

SCAS not only meet Government performance targets, but also receive approximately four times more compliments than complaints, and we currently have a 97% patient satisfaction rate. For a large part of the public’s time, we are an “invisible “service – that is, you only meet us when there is an emergency, but that doesn’t mean you should not think about how you may help our service.

How can YOU help us to continue to perform at this level of achievement?

• By trying seeking appropriate routine treatment before things reach a crisis point
• Remembering that it is an “Accident” or “Emergency” service, and not a substitute for seeking a routine appointment or telephone consultation with a GP
• If you do need to call “999”, remember that the call taker in many instances stays on the line, but this does not delay the response as there are several people listening and acting simultaneously – it does not delay response.
• If you are waiting for an Ambulance, if you have a person available or a neighbour, then position that person in order to attract the vehicle – even though our systems are very accurate, some house numbers or names can be quite well hidden
• At night, put on a lot of lights, and move vehicles out of the way to allow easy access.
• If you are a driver, use your mirror, and MOVE over when you see or hear blue lights and sirens. Equally, if you see our Swallowfield BMW Responder vehicle in your mirror with daytime headlamps on, please also give way, or move over, as we may also be on a 999 call to a life threatening emergency, but we are not permitted use of blue lights and sirens!

Finally, and most importantly SCAS would appeal for anyone who would like to become a member of the SCAS Trust to join in sharing the day to day meetings, events, news and information of SCAS, and to give very important feedback to the Trust on how we performed for you, with your Ambulance service. Leaflets and membership forms are available from the Wendover Health Centre – if you wish to participate in what is YOUR AMBULANCE SERVICE.

 

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