London’s ambulance service last week took delivery of 12 new motorcycles which will help paramedics answer 999 calls in central and east London.
All paramedics in the Motorcycle Response Unit take a course in police motorcycle-rider training and the unit, which operates from Waterloo ambulance station, responds to 99 calls from 7am to 11pm every day.
Motorcycle Response Co-ordinator Shaun Rock said: “This is great news for patients in London. The 12 new motorcycles will respond to people dialling 999 for help in areas where traffic congestion and narrow streets mean we can get there faster than a regular ambulance or fast response car.
“We can then assess and start giving life-saving treatment to patients while an ambulance is on the way.
“All the motorcycles carry the same life-saving equipment as ambulances, including a defibrillator – a machine used to restart a patient’s heart when they have suffered a cardiac arrest. Early use of a defibrillator is essential to saving someone’s life.”
