The Helen Hamlyn Centre research team investigating the design of the future ambulance under the direction of Professor Roger Coleman stepped up its work with a presence at AMBEX 2006, the leading international ambulance exhibition and conference held last summer from 28-30 June in Harrogate, Yorkshire.
The centre’s display presented preliminary findings on design challenges facing the UK ambulance service amid moves to restructure it to become more responsive to patient needs. The centre is working with Loughborough University and the National Patient Safety Agency on the project.
The research team identified nine key challenges based on comments and consensus from four stakeholder workshops. These were illustrated with potential solutions suggested by service personnel. A follow-up survey was conducted on the spot at AMBEX to verify the design challenges and the proposed R&D route.
The results of the survey strongly endorsed the research findings and the research team was able to proceed to writing up a final report for the ambulance service.
Roger Coleman was a keynote speaker at AMBEX and an extended plenary session was devoted to the research findings. Richard Diment, Chief Executive of the Ambulance Service Association, said: ‘The ambulance design project now has real momentum behind it. I have had very positive feedback from delegates and visitors about what they heard and saw.’
