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Police and ambulance to combine resources
With some 2,000 calls a day expected during the run-up to Christmas, Bristol’s emergency services have been outlining how they will cope with one of the busiest times of the year.
For the first time, police and ambulance resources will be combined on Wednesday and Friday’s festive shifts.
South Western Ambulance Service will work in the police control room to prioritise jobs and enable more effective use of resources.
Police control room centre manager Becky Tipper said the pilot should help the blue light services “share skills, increase efficiency and improve our service to the public”.
Adrian Healey from the ambulance service said if this new “innovative approach” was successful the pilot could be rolled out during other periods of high demand.
The pilot comes off the back of an initiative where mental health professionals and the police worked closely together in the control room.
Last month alone this service helped with 888 incidents and ensured 93 people could access help from mental health services rather than the police.
Avon & Somerset police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “I have no doubt this innovative approach of having ambulance and police staff working side-by-side in the control room, will make a real difference to those in need over the festive period.”
Read more: Mental health nurses to work with police
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