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Improving ambulance response times: high impact changes and response time algorithms for NHS ambulance trusts

This document has been produced for ambulance trusts and key stakeholders involved in the commissioning and performance management to act as a guide, and bring together high impact changes and algorithms to bring about a real and sustained improvement in performance and patient care.

The document is part of a targeted approach to help trusts prepare and achieve against the new call connect standard which will be introduced in April 2008. The introduction of call connect is designed to take away any delays in answering the call and consequently in dispatching an ambulance response. It will mean that response times are measured from when the call is connected to the control room rather than once key information is obtained, as is the case at present. It will improve patient outcomes, better match the patient’s experience of their work for help; and improve transparency and consistency of reporting.

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