Essex Ambulance Service is using the latest technology to save lives across the county.

Ten of the Trust’s Emergency Care Practitioners (ECPs) are now using new space saving Automatic External Defibrillators and 12-lead ECG (Electro Cardiogram) recorders.

The equipment is made by Schiller and is the smallest and lightest on the market. Both items were extensively evaluated by staff and project managers before a decision was taken to buy them.

ECP Project Manager, Neil Storey, said: "The ECPs use a mix of 4x4 vehicles and cars to respond to calls. Having equipment this small makes it much easier for them to take the items to the incident they are attending."

"There are no other products on the market that combines the size, weight and performance of the defibrillator. It will give out 70-shocks before the battery needs recharging and is about a quarter of the size of what they had before."

"The 12-lead ECG is used for diagnosing heart conditions and is especially useful for assessing a patient who is having a heart attack. It prints out a paper record of the heart trace."

"They have already been used when patients are thrombolysed - this is where a blood thinning drug is given to remove the clot in the heart. The ECG allows paramedics and ECP's to diagnose the problem very accurately."

"The staff who trialled both products say they are easy to use and simple to monitor. Both provide an expansion to the diagnostic equipment carried by the ECPs."

"We will be monitoring the success of these machines but envisage expanding the number we have as more Emergency Care Practitioners complete their training."

The equipment is currently in use with ECP's based in: Braintree, Brentwood, Dunmow, Epping, Harlow, Maldon, Southend, Tendring, Thurrock and Witham.

There are currently 27 ECP operating throughout the county. Another 20 paramedics are currently training to become ECPs.

The 22-week course has four components. Each has 50% academic and 50% practical base:

1. Patient Assessment
2. Acute Medical Conditions and Minor Injuries
3. Chronic Medical Conditions and Health Surveillance
4. Therapeutic Interventions

The students will also complete a series of placements in settings such as Accident and Emergency, a GP Surgery, a Minor Injuries Units and a Walk In Centre.

Around 60-70% of patients seen by ECP’s do not require to go to hospital for further treatment. This compares to 30-40% for ambulance crews Ends