Optimising ambulance response outcomes and costs pilot evaluation study (OptiAmbuROC)

• Dr Colin Ridyard, CaHRU University of Lincoln
• Dr Murray Smith, CaHRU University of Lincoln
• Robert Spaight, East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• Dr Leon Roberts, East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• Prof Niro Siriwardena, CaHRU University of Lincoln

• University of Lincoln
• East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

• Objectives

• To explore crew mixes and costings in DCAs and RRVs (e.g. A4C banding on technicians and paramedics).
• To assign unit costs to crew mixes in DCAs and RRVs.
• To explore the probabilities of conveyance by category in selected high-volume calls for different ratios of RRVs to DCAs.
• To estimate the cost of attendance and cost of conveyance for incidents first attended by an RRV and first attended by a DCA.
• To explore other ways of modelling optimal configurations based on available data and existing literature.

Graph of modelled cost versus percentage single crewed RRV.

A final report of the study and set of recommendations in the form of a policy briefing.

Publication

Ridyard C, Smith MD, Spaight R, Law, Siriwardena AN (2022). Optimising ambulance conveyance rates and staff costs by adjusting proportions of rapid response vehicles and dual-crewed ambulances: an economic decision analytic modelling study. Emergency Medical Journal (online first).