International Recognition Ensures 999 Patients Received Best Possible Service

HSE National Ambulance Service North Leinster Tullamore Control Centre has again been recognised as one of the best emergency control centres in the world for the way it handles the growing number of 112/999 calls.

The Tullamore Control Centre is one of only a few emergency control facilities in Europe to be accredited as a Centre of Excellence twice over the past four years by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED). The Re-Accredited status runs from 2012 to 2015.

The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. It was established in 1988 as a standard-setting organisation in the field of emergency medical dispatch and has grown into a world leader for establishing standards and protocols for safe handling and dispatch for all emergency services.

The accolade acknowledges the effective way the service deals with 112/999 calls coming into its North Leinster Tullamore Control Centre, Co Offaly.

Accreditation as a Centre of Excellence by the IAED is based on a stringent assessment of the services procedures and performance around handling 112/999 calls. This includes listening to and reviewing three per cent of all emergency calls selected at random, to ensure call-handlers are properly identifying the clinical nature of the emergency and providing the right advice to the caller, while an ambulance response is en route.

Beverley Logan, IAED Accreditation Officer said: “This latest re-accreditation is testament to the hard work of everyone involved with answering 112/999 calls. Clearly that includes the team of dedicated call-handlers who are the first point of contact for anyone phoning 112/999 with an emergency often in very stressful situations.

“But there are also many other people who play a vital role in terms of on-going training and ensuring all the services processes are working properly – all with the objective of providing rapid, effective help for patients.”

The latest accreditation certificate was presented to HSE NAS, Midland Division on Thursday, 29^th March 2012 at the North Leinster Area Ambulance Control Centre in Tullamore, Co Offaly and will also be recognised at the IAED’s annual  UK Navigator Conference  being held at the Thistle Grand Hotel in Bristol, September 2012.

Pat Mooney Control Manager National Ambulance Service North Leinster Area, commended the dedicated work and commitment by each and every staff member.