1.42 As one of the three key emergency services, Ambulance Trusts need efficient and effective radio communications functions. Current radio systems are old and frequently of poor quality. As a result, the Department of Health is planning a procurement for a new national radio network. Ambulances will be the most significant group of users, numbering around 15,500 individual radios, and their needs are dominating the early specifications. However, the possibility exists that others within the NHS might want to use the same system and their needs will also be considered. The full project management support mechanism is in place and the procurement should be completed by September 2003.
1.43 Unlike the Fire Service, the Department of Health rejected a local or regional approach to radio communications procurement because it would not ensure a common standard of communications across all Ambulance Trusts and would necessitate up to 32 separate procurements. Although the Department of Health can require trusts to conform to a common standard system if it becomes necessary, initial responses from Ambulance Trusts have welcomed the idea of a common system. The Department of Health intends to learn from the experiences of the police and of PITO in the procurement of Airwave and will be talking to them and to other emergency services and public safety organisations.
1.44 Interoperability with local police forces and fire brigades will be a key requirement of the new ambulance radio system. While the procurement of a national radio system for the Ambulance Service will be an open competition it is anticipated that O2/Airwave will be one of the bidders.