Cycling paramedic programme extended from cities to towns

CYCLING paramedic response teams could soon be in operation in towns across North Yorkshire under a new region-wide pilot scheme.

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service response units, which were launched in York almost 10 years ago to the day, have proved a huge success and been extended to Leeds, Hull and Sheffield.

Now the cycling paramedics, who ride mountain bikes equipped with state-of-the-art life-saving equipment as well as blue flashing lights and sirens, are being extended to a four-month trial period in Harrogate, the first town rather than city, to get the service.

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Ambulance chiefs say if this proves a success, the paramedic service – which aim to arrive on the scene of emergencies nearly four times faster than recommended response times – will be introduced in Scarborough and other North Yorkshire towns.

Mark Inman, locality manager for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service who was the first cycling paramedic in the north, said: “Cycle response units have made an enormous difference, our bikes respond to more than 200 jobs in a month in York.

“Harrogate is the first town in Yorkshire which will have cycle response units, we have chosen it because it is a busy urban town centre which is very popular with lots of tourists and residents.

“We want to be able to respond to the medical needs of these people.

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“In other cities across Yorkshire, cycle response units continue to prove that they can get to patients much more quickly in built-up or traffic-restricted areas.

“The quick response means staff can make an immediate assessment of the patient and start initial treatment.

“Often they can tackle many minor medical emergencies at the scene, leaving ambulances to deal with emergencies elsewhere.

“Harrogate already does very well with response times, but we are looking at what improvements we can make in the four months.

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“Following that we will be looking at other areas in North Yorkshire.”

The Harrogate cycle response unit will be operational seven days a week during daylight hours in the centre of the spa town.

It will not have a set base, instead constantly moving around town to ensure it can arrive at the scene of emergencies in between two and three minutes.

The current Yorkshire Ambulance Trust performance standard for arriving at the scene of life threatening emergencies is eight minutes.

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Ambulance chiefs say the geography of Harrogate town centre will benefit the new response units.

Rob Harrison, 33, who has been working as a cycle response unit in York for the past three years, will be the dedicated paramedic for Harrogate, with other York team members drafted in on his days off.

“The work can vary completely but in some days you can attend up to 12 jobs”, he said.

“Because of the way we operate .you get to know the locals and you become a permanent fixture in the town.

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“You get to know the shortcuts and the quickest way through town.

“Hopefully that will be the case in Harrogate as well.”

The four-month trial began yesterday and if it proves successful, will be made a permanent resource for the spa town.

During the first 12 months of the York pilot, cycle paramedics covered more than 4,600 miles, responding to 860 emergency calls in the city centre.

The unit also reached 98 per cent of all emergency calls inside eight minutes, well above a target of 75 per cent, and frequently beats the ambulance to the scene.

Pedal power proves practical

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The cycle response units ride top-of-the-range mountain bikes with £5,000 of equipment,

The bike sports panniers equipped with a defibrillator and other equipment and medication to treat seriously ill patients, as well as a radio and mobile phone.

Ambulance service chiefs say the bikes are able to carry almost as much equipment as rapid response motorbikes and cars.