The provision of an accident and emergency service to respond to 999 calls
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SCAS) provides a response to 999 medical emergency calls. Through investment in more staff, newer vehicles and improved ways of working we are aiming to reach emergencies even faster in the future, helping improve outcomes for patients and saving more lives.

SCAS is also involved, along with other healthcare providers, in service developments which will enable us to treat more patients in their own homes and therefore prevent unnecessary trips to hospital.

Responses to calls are based on the needs of the patient
A range of responses is available to emergency calls, including:
·         Helicopter
·         motorcycles
·         double manned and singled manned paramedic ambulances
·         bicycle responders, in some city centres
·         community responders.

Community Responder Schemes
SCAS also works with volunteer community responders. These are local people trained to respond to life threatening incidents and provide immediate support. By increasing the number of community responders and providing equipment to locations where there is a high likelihood of incidents SCAS can knock vital seconds of the time it takes to deliver support to patients and consequently save more lives.

For more information about community responders, please click here.

Patient Transport Service
The Patient Transport Service performs an important role in taking patients to and from their hospital appointments.

In some areas, we also provide non patient transport services within the health environment, for example transporting medical supplies and samples and transporting medical staff between locations.

Community Equipment Loan Service
In addition, in Berkshire, we provide a Community Equipment Loans Service on behalf of the local health economy.  Based at Theale, the service provides a large range of medical equipment and aids, which support patients to continue independent living in their own homes.

Commercial Training
We also provide a wide range of first aid courses through our commercial training department.  We provide First Aid at Work training.