16th October 2017
In order to facilitate essential maintenance and testing within Emergency Ambulance Control, the Northern Ireland Ambulance has planned a major business continuity test on Wednesday 18 October.
The purpose of the test is to examine the electrical cabling system to identify potential faults.
NIAS receives over 200,000 emergency calls per year and when added to the other 600,000 calls in and out of the control room from Healthcare Professionals, staff and others, the reliance on a fully functional system becomes obvious. Should the system fail without warning the risks are obvious.
In planning the test and implementing business continuity plans, NIAS has ensured a greater measure of control in closing down the system. The contingency plans include moving operations to a secondary site for the duration of the test.
The testing will last approximately 12 hours and the system will then be powered up. During the period of testing, callers to our 999 service will be dealt with in the same efficient manner as would normally be the case. Callers will be taken through the same processes as before and, as always, NIAS will endeavour to provide the most appropriate response to all calls.
Our triage system aims to provide the quickest response to the sickest patient and will strive to continue to so do. But as always we would ask for the help of all within the community by ensuring that we are called only in real emergencies.
Systems within Headquarters will also be affected including the telephone system. However, for general queries that would normally go through the switchboard at reception a temporary number has been established – 07917 093012.