Mersey Regional Ambulance Service NHS Trust - Paediatric Bags

Following a recent consultation with front-line paramedic staff, Mersey Regional Ambulance Service has identified a need for greaterefficiency in dealing with emergencies involving children and babies.

The bags will allow paramedics speedy access to equipment and supplies in an organised, systematic way and will result in precioustime being saved in the event of a life-threatening emergency.

We have previously equipped all 150 vehicles in the Greater Manchester fleet with these bags, and they have been a tremendoussuccess, cutting down response times and improving the standard ofequipment available. During cross-service consultation, GMAS recommended that MRAS approach us for the same equipment.

MRAS deals with over 30,000 emergency calls to children and babies each year, and potentially all of these would benefit from any increase in speed of treatment. The bag will contain laryngoscope handles and blades, thermometers, pedi-wheel and tape, a quick track device and other paediatric specific equipment.

By providing one of these bags for each of the 150 vehicles in the Mersey fleet, we would be ensuring that children can receive the best possible care immediately as the paramedic arrives on the scene. We have negotiated an overall cost of £125.00 for each bag, and as a charity we do not pay VAT on medical items. Therefore there is a total project cost of £18,750.00.