30 August 2024
The West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust (WMAS) serves as a critical lifeline for the West Midlands region of England, providing essential NHS ambulance services. As one of ten ambulance trusts within the NHS, WMAS is entrusted with delivering emergency medical services across a vast geographical area.
Covering Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton, WMAS’s reach extends to the unitary authorities of Stoke-on-Trent and Telford & Wrekin. Additionally, the trust offers non-emergency patient transport services in Birmingham, the Black Country, Arden, Cheshire, and the Wirral.
“To continue to provide timely and efficient emergency medical response, WMAS faced challenges inherent to traditional geostationary communication systems. These limitations, including slower speeds, high latency, and fixed location constraints, threatened the agility required for effective emergency response operations across its expansive service area.”
Shooting for the stars
To continue to provide timely and efficient emergency medical response, WMAS faced challenges inherent to traditional geostationary communication systems. These limitations, including slower speeds, high latency, and fixed location constraints, threatened the agility required for effective emergency response operations across its expansive service area.
Recognising the need for change, WMAS partnered with Clarus Networks Group to overhaul its Command Unit’s communication infrastructure. Leveraging Starlink’s mobility service, WMAS aimed to unlock unprecedented levels of connectivity, mobility, and reliability essential for optimising emergency response capabilities.
Key components of the solution included high-speed internet connectivity, enabling real-time data sharing and communication, empowering WMAS to make informed decisions swiftly during emergencies; seamless connectivity on the move, ensuring operational readiness regardless of location within the West Midlands region; and consistent and dependable connections, mitigating the risk of communication breakdowns during critical operations.
Advancing modern healthcare
The adoption of Starlink’s advanced mobility solution marks a significant milestone in emergency communication technology for WMAS. Advancing beyond the limitations of traditional geostationary systems, WMAS stands poised to provide faster, more efficient services precisely when they are most urgently required.
The partnership between WMAS, Clarus Networks Group, and Starlink Mobility exemplifies a shared commitment to innovation and excellence in emergency medical services. Through the deployment of cutting-edge technology, WMAS reinforces its dedication to safeguarding the health and well-being of the communities it serves across the West Midlands region, ensuring that critical emergency communication capabilities evolve in tandem with the ever-changing demands of modern healthcare.
The results speak for themselves. WMAS gained speeds of 220Mbps download and 40Mbps upload, even whilst in motion, and latency of just 20-99ms. Reliable coverage - even in rugged terrain and remote valleys – was achieved, while instant communication was made possible with emergency personnel and other stakeholders. Finally, WMAS now benefits from a future-proofed primary and backup internet solution.
