Force celebrates five years of the Medicar!

More than 100 people have received potentially lifesaving treatment thanks to a joint initiative by Cleveland Police and the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) to help those injured during incidents.

The Medicar was first introduced five years ago and allows both emergency services to respond more quickly to incidents which can include road traffic collisions, assaults and more.

It is a force-wide initiative covering the whole of Cleveland and is staffed by two Special Constables and a NEAS paramedic.

The Medicar runs between 7.30pm to 3.30am on a Friday night and 11.00am to 7.00pm on Saturday along with an additional shift on Saturday between 7.30pm and 3.30am.

Since its inception five years ago, the Medicar has travelled around 65,000 miles across Cleveland, has provided potentially lifesaving treatment to 103 people and has supported hundreds more victims during 552 shifts and 8,832 hours.

It has helped both services to deliver a more effective and timely response to those patients at incidents which required a joint attendance.

The Medicar also frees up an average of three ambulances per shift to respond to other patients in need and diverts around two people away from A&E per shift, reducing pressure on our hospitals.

Temporary Chief Officer of Cleveland Police Special Constabulary Rob Lynas said: “The Medicar is an excellent resource and shows the true value that volunteers can bring to support our colleagues in the force as well as the ambulance service and most importantly the people of Cleveland.

“The last five years has been a huge success and everyone who has been a part of the Medicar should be extremely proud of the work they have done to protect people and communities. Long may it continue.”

Head of Operations, Shane Woodhouse from North East Ambulance Service said: “Patient care is at the forefront of what we do. Our partnership with Cleveland Police on the Medicar has enabled us to use our resources more efficiently and respond to more challenging incidents quickly, thereby helping us to improve the care we’re able to provide patients in Cleveland.”