Accident & Emergency
Our 999 communications
centres in Newcastle receive well over 1,000 emergency calls every
day.
To meet this demand we have more than 600 paramedics, 140
advanced technicians and 200 emergency care support workers (ECSW)
on the front line.Our fleet of over 500 specially-equipped
emergency vehicles operates from 51 ambulance stations, though we
have a total of 63 sites across the region. A network of stand-by
points, where vehicles wait until needed, helps us to respond more
quickly.
Patients are categorised according to the seriousness of their
condition through our call centre at Bernicia House, at Newburn
Riverside. Those whose situation is immediately life-threatening
receive the fastest response.
We work hard to ensure
that we meet national targets which, in the case of a Category A
call, is a reaching a patient within eight minutes.
Rapid response vehicles (RRVs) and ambulances, each with
highly-skilled staff trained in the use of the latest medical
equipment, also respond to urgent calls from GPs - but we also have
other ways of reaching patients fast.
These options can save time and lives, often freeing RRVs and
ambulances for use elsewhere.
We can respond in a number of different ways:
Click here for advice on when to call
999
Alternative Options
Air Ambulances
Where speed is vital because of the severity or nature of a
patient's injuries, or if the emergency cannot be reached easily by
road, NEAS works with the Great North Air Ambulance
Service. Although the GNAAS is a charity in its own right,
our organisations have strong links.
BASICS Doctors
A network of doctors provides support to ambulance crews at serious
road accidents and other trauma incidents. The service is provided
on a voluntary basis and all of the specially-trained medics are
affiliated to the British Association for Immediate Care
(BASICS).
Community First Responders
We have over 170 Community First Responders across the North
East. Each is trained to use life-saving equipment, including
defibrillators, and other life saving techniques.
NEAS also works actively with heart charities and fund raisers
across our region to establish public defibrillators at locations
which are remote, or regularly attract large groups of people. We
also provide training on how to operate a defibrillator.
Click to find out more about
First Responders
HART (Hazardous Area Response Team)
HART units are made up of specially trained paramedics who deal
with major incidents. If a chemical site exploded or a terrorist
attack took place in the North East, HART would be the section of
NEAS in charge of the operation.
Emergency services establish three areas at an incident: the
cold zone, the warm zone and the hot zone. Traditionally, ambulance
crews operated in the cold zone - away from danger. HART teams are
trained to operate in the hot zone.
Click to find out more
about HART
