TTA Archives 2005-2012

Devon County Council and the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SWAST) has launched a dedicated service to respond to community alarm calls. Historically, SWAST’s clinicians have been called to non-medical situations where an elderly person may have fallen but fortunately not sustained an injury. Consequently, any attending resources – clinicians, vehicles and equipment – which were allocated to these calls were prevented from attending life threatening emergencies. Many people are also reluctant to contact the ambulance service for incidents that do not appear to them to be an emergency, and have put themselves at risk by not calling for assistance. The new partnership provides a 24-hour service specifically for non-injured clients and those with other identified health and social care needs. News report.