A fleet of new state-of the-art ambulances operated by Medicall will be the first in Europe to be controlled by on board tablet PCs that can provide remote monitoring of a patient’s life signs during transport.

These three new Renault Master ambulances will be the first in Ireland not only to be CEN certified (Latest EU safety standard) but also to have Single Vehicle Type Approval, a huge step in patient and crew safety which ultimately leads to improved road safety. Also a first for Ireland is that these new ambulances are fitted with the latest patient care equipment and a revolutionary new patient data collection technology which is unique to Medicall ambulances.

The ambulances will be operated by Medicall Ambulance and, for the first time in Europe, will use on board tablet PC’s for command and control, to guide them accurately and quickly to their destinations, and help track patient vital signs. The technology used in the ambulances was developed by another Irish company, Valentia Technology, who have developed similar technology for ambulance services in Europe and the Far East.

The Renault Master ambulances supplied by Renault Belgard were converted in Poland by Baus AT and were today officially handed over by South Dublin City Council Mayor, Mr. Cathal King and the Polish Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Marcin Nawrot, at the official launch in Renault Belgard.

Andrew Lyle, Operations Director at Medicall Ambulance: “The new vehicle safety standards and the use of tablet computer technology for command and control allow us to deliver the very highest standards of patient care. Medicall Ambulance has operated Renault ambulances in its fleet for many years and they have proven themselves to be economical and highly reliable in service with us. The Renault Master’s reliability in service was the deciding factor for us when we commissioned Baus AT to build the latest additions to our fleet of ambulances. Our client hospitals regularly entrust very seriously ill patients to us and these new state of the art ambulances and new technology will enable us to provide an ever better and improved service”.

Barry Dunne, Commercial Manager, Renault Belgard: “We are delighted at Renault Belgard to be involved with Medicall in supplying to them the 1st CEN Certified state of the art Renault Master Ambulances. Renault has long been associated with providing Medicall with their Renault Trafic and Master Ambulances and we are also very proud to be involved in a first for Ireland where the latest patient care equipment, safety and revolutionary new patient data technology is fitted in these Renault vehicles”.

Councillor Cathal King, Mayor of South Dublin County who officiated at the launch in Renault Belgard: I am delighted as Mayor of South Dublin County to be associated with such an innovative and unique launch with Medicall and Renault Belgard here in Tallaght today which I’m sure will be a long and successful partnership. I would like to congratulate Irish company Valentia Technology who has developed the technology that is being used in the Fleet and which showcases innovations being developed here in Ireland. I would also like to commend Polish firm Baus AT for their valuable role in converting the vehicles to such a high standard. I firmly believe that these innovations will lead to better care and I’m sure better outcomes for those patients who are cared for and transported in these vehicles. Medicall have been proven to be leaders in introducing new technologies in Ambulance Service provision over the past twenty years but today they have gone above and beyond with this state of the art Fleet”.