'Don't use your sat nav' Ambulance crews are told to use A-Z.

Byline: Paul James

AMBULANCE drivers are being told to go back to their A-Z maps because satellite navigation systems are delaying response times.

A memo sent to staff by North East Ambulance Service boss Paul Liversidge urges them to use maps and local knowledge rather than rely on hi-tech navigation systems. And yesterday, the advice was seized upon by campaigners who say it proves they're right to fear plans to centralise the emergency call system for the ambulance service.

Mr Liversidge's memo, leaked to The Journal, reads: "I have previously communicated generally on a number of occasions about the problems we have experienced with staff relaying solely on their sat nav systems and not checking locations with the A to Z map books when unsure of locations.

"It seems we continue to experience similar issues, which can delay the response to patients. Can I again emphasise the sat nav system should only be used as a guide?" An NEAS spokesman said local knowledge had always been valued by the service in enabling drivers to get to emergency scenes as quickly as possible.

But worries about local knowledge and speed are behind the campaign against NEAS plans to close a Middlesbrough call centre and route calls through bases across Tyneside.

One of the main opponents is Barry Coppinger, a Middlesbrough councillor and chairman of the Cleveland Joint Emergency Planning Committee.

He said: "When the ambulance trust decided to go ahead with this, they said that everything would work smoothly because sat nav technology meant local knowledge was no longer needed by control room staff.

"What this leaked memo shows is that is simply not the case. You can have all the technology in the world, but it doesn't replace people's local knowledge.

"Time after time, throughout the debate over the fears that moving all operations to Tyneside would undermine ambulance services on Teesside, we have been assured that the ambulance trust had the technology to ensure that crews could be directed to correct locations anywhere within the region.

"This memo exposes the dangerous flaws in the North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust's plans." The NEAS spokesman said call centre staff did not need local knowledge to dispatch crews to jobs and pointed out that Tyneside operatives already directed ambulances to an area covering rural Northumberland and Durham, as well as Tyne and Wear.

He said: "It has always been the view of NEAS that the knowledge acquired by our staff operating out of local ambulance stations and health centres is useful, and therefore the reference to local knowledge in this instance is appropriate.

"As with any satellite navigation system, there are times when one's knowledge of the local roads and congestion areas will determine a faster route than the one advised by the system." Unison's Trevor Johnstone said it was rare for ambulances to be sent astray by sat navs. "The whole point is to make sure they're on time. They have always used directions and A-Zs. Sat navs were only ever there as a guide." Comment 10

CASE STUDY

A SPATE of sat nav mishaps have caused chaos across the North East over recent years.

In May 2006 an ambulance took almost an hour to reach an injured girl after the driver was misdirected by satellite navigation equipment.

Ten-year-old Chloe Banks from Heathfield Gardens, Greenside, Gateshead, was left lying on the road after she was hit by a car on April 21.

Her life was not in danger and a rapid response paramedic was at the scene six minutes after the accident at 1.30pm. But because the satellite navigation system directed them the wrong way the trip took more than an hour.

Elsewhere, motorists have been involved in accidents after misguiding directions.

In June 2008 van driver Graham William Foster, 21, of Druridge Crescent, Blyth, Northumberland, caused a crash with a train carrying 45 passengers after following directions from his satellite navigation system. The delivery driver was spared jail following a high-profile court case. He was handed a 13-week jail term, suspended for 12 months.

FORCED TO WAIT Chloe banks with mother Maggie..You can have all the technology in the world, but it doesn't replace people's local knowledge