Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
Revolutionising Mobile Communication for Lifesaving Operations at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC), the UK’s largest air ambulance service and the busiest in England, has successfully completed over 77,000 lifesaving missions since it was founded in 1991. Operating across six counties in the Midlands, MAAC’s mission is to deliver emergency medical care to critically ill or injured patients, with three air ambulances and a fleet of critical care cars. Despite their crucial role, the charity faced mounting challenges in maintaining effective and continuous mobile communication across their rapidly expanding operations.
Faced with these difficulties, MAAC turned to Fusion Communications for a robust solution that would modernise their mobile communication systems, ensuring smooth operations and swift medical responses, ultimately saving more lives.
MAAC’s work depends on rapid mobile communication between medical teams, emergency services, and staff spread across multiple regions. However, the charity’s existing mobile communication systems were outdated and costly, impeding its ability to provide the necessary connectivity. With mobile reception being inconsistent, especially in rural areas, on occasions the charity’s teams struggled to stay connected with colleagues and supporters. The geographical challenges were significant. For instance, MAAC’s airbase in Shropshire, located on Greenbelt land, had poor reception with their current network provider. This resulted in communication blackouts, which was especially challenging for such a critical site. In addition, 30% of MAAC’s workforce operate remotely or in lone-working conditions, further complicating communication. “Communicating effectively across our dispersed teams was difficult staying connected was essential; but unreliable,” explained Karen Kingham, Finance Director at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.
As a charity, there was also constant pressure to ensure cost efficiency. “We needed a solution that didn’t just enhance our operations but also fit our budget. Every penny matters in a charity,” said Karen Kingham.
The Solution
MAAC partnered with Fusion Communications to overhaul their communication systems, implementing a comprehensive and reliable mobile telecom solution designed specifically for the charity’s unique needs. Fusion introduced a robust infrastructure that significantly improved connectivity across all MAAC’s operations, including remote areas where communication had previously been unreliable or unstable.
One of the standout improvements was the introduction of Wi-Fi calling, which resolved the reception issues at the Shropshire airbase. This feature enabled clear and consistent mobile communication at the base, no matter the environmental constraints. Fusion also provided MAAC’s field teams with new mobile phones and tablets, which allowed critical care paramedics to access essential medical databases and treatment guidelines while on scene via phones, rather than using paper versions.
For the charity’s remote and lone workers, Fusion provided devices with stronger, more reliable network connections, ensuring that team members could stay connected at all times, especially during emergencies. “Wi-Fi calling has been essential for us,” said Karen Kingham, “We no longer face the mobile communication blackouts that once hindered our operations at the Shropshire airbase. It’s made a huge difference in how we can operate efficiently.”
To address financial concerns, Fusion introduced a more cost-effective calling plan, which helped MAAC save up to 25% on their previous telecom expenses. These savings were redirected to critical care services, reinforcing MAAC’s mission of saving lives. Additionally, Fusion integrated the charity’s mobile communications into a single platform, allowing MAAC to streamline its operations and improve overall efficiency. This seamless integration meant that MAAC was able to manage all mobile communications, from calls to data usage, through one system. This helped not only reduce administrative burdens but also ensured compliance with UK Charity Commission guidelines. “Every pound we save on operational costs goes directly back into our missions, and Fusion’s mobile telecom solution has given us more resources to allocate where they matter most, saving lives,” said Karen Kingham.
Fusion’s on-going support has also been pivotal. Any issues that arose were resolved quickly, keeping downtime to a minimum and ensuring constant communication between teams. “Fusion has been incredibly responsive,” added Karen, “Whenever we’ve needed assistance, they’ve been there immediately, which is crucial for us given the nature of our work.”
The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is more than just a customer to Fusion, but a partnership and one that is highly valued. Throughout their partnership, MAAC experienced significant improvements in operational efficiency, mobile communication reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
The results
Improved Response Times:
Enhanced connectivity led to faster emergency response coordination.
Cost Savings:
Achieved a 25% reduction in telecom costs, allowing more funds to be allocated to critical services.
Operational Efficiency:
Streamlined communication processes improved overall operational efficiency.
Enhanced Reliability:
Reliable telecom infrastructure ensured consistent communication, critical for emergency operations.
Conclusion
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