£5.7m project to develop unbreakable connectivity for ambulances

Hybrid Connex ‘Digital Amublance of The Future’ project will combine mobile and satellite signals to give resilient connections

A consortium that includes Vodafone will test unbreakable connectivity technology that will enable ambulances and other emergency vehicles to stay connected under all circumstances.

Other members of the Hybrid Connex consortium include emergency services connectivity specialists Excelerate Technology,  NHS Arden and GEM, Livewire, and the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Hybrid Connex is a €5.7m research and development initiative co-funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) ARTES 5G Strategic Programme Line (SPL) and the UK Space Agency to create an always-connected and cloud-based digital ambulance of the future using software, hardware and cellular and satellite services to create unbreakable, permanent connectivity.

The Hybrid Connex Digital Ambulance of the Future Project will run a pilot scheme with The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust to test robust connectivity even where cellular connectivity is impossible by using 4G, 5G and satellite connections. The main connection will be 5G. This will default to 4G when 5G is unavailable and then to satellite connectivity where there is no mobile coverage.

The pilot will involve six East of England ambulance vehicles between August and. It will be evaluated and, if successful, offered to ambulance trusts. Other UK ambulance services are being encouraged to test the new technology free of charge.

“This level of connectivity will enable regional ambulance services to achieve more. The resilience of the connection is being adopted in other parts of the world. We can deliver that capability to our emergency services customers where the ambulance sector and patients will be the primary beneficiaries”, said, Excelerate Technology chief operating officer Bethan Evans.

Philip Elvidge electronic patient record clinical lead and paramedic at East of England Ambulance Service, explained.

“Thetford Forest a dead spot for cellular connection. If I have no connectivity to access information, I may take the patient to the hospital because I was unaware of more suitable treatment.

“Poor connectivity affects cardiac monitor telemetry. If you are diagnosing a patient in a connectivity black spot you can’t send the ECG to a specialist prior to arrival. A solid connection means we can have effective video triage”.