As part of the nationwide Ambulance Radio Programme (ARP), Ambulance Service Trusts across England and Wales are undergoing a transformative technology upgrade aimed at enhancing efficiency and improving patient safety. Panasonic TOUGHBOOK, in collaboration with long-standing critical technology partners Centerprise, Terrafix, and Telent, is equipping all rapid response and dual crewed ambulances with the latest rugged mobile devices.

This significant initiative will benefit all 12 NHS Ambulance Service Trusts, serving a population of 50 million people, by enabling seamless coordination with updated control room solutions, ultimately improving service delivery. The ARP is delivering crucial technology solutions across the UK, such as patient transportation applications, to ensure effective communication between Ambulance Service Trusts, the NHS, and other frontline emergency responders.

Under the ARP initiative, Panasonic and its partners are providing a standardized yet flexible solution tailored to the unique needs of each Trust. With the diversity of vehicle models and dashboard designs, each deployment is customized to meet specific requirements. Panasonic TOUGHBOOK devices, operating on Windows, offer additional functionalities and the flexibility to easily develop new applications as needs evolve. 

These devices will also enable ambulance crews to access the latest and most detailed mapping of rural and urban areas in England and Wales through the National Mobilisation Application, developed by Terrafix. Remote software updates further minimize ambulance downtime, ensuring continuous operation.

To date, over 4,000 Panasonic TOUGHBOOK devices have been installed in ambulance service vehicles across England and Wales. Stuart Murphy, Senior Programme Manager of the Ambulance Radio Programme, commented on the deployment's success: "We’re seeing next-to-no failure in those Trusts that have completed installations. With fantastic reliability, usability, crystal-clear display, first-class connectivity, and mapping capability, the new solutions have received great feedback from our frontline crew, enabling them to pinpoint incident locations with far greater accuracy. Ultimately, the roll-out will lead to fewer vehicles off the road due to hardware failures, with reduced downtime and better patient safety."

Will Holmes, Business Manager for the Public Sector (Fire, Ambulance & Central Government) at Panasonic Mobile Solutions, added: "This technology refresh is a game-changer for the NHS Ambulance Service Trusts across England and Wales. By integrating rugged, reliable, and highly functional TOUGHBOOK tablets into their vehicles, they are setting new standards for efficiency and patient safety. This upgrade ensures that our ambulance services remain at the forefront of emergency response, ready to save lives with the best technology available."