New partnership equips ambulances with real-time digital record technology

Paramedics in Northern Ireland are now able to send patient information directly from the scene to hospitals before they even arrive, thanks to a new digital system being rolled out across the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) fleet.

In partnership with Ortivus and Panasonic, NIAS has equipped its emergency response vehicles with the Ortivus MobiMed electronic patient care record (ePCR) system, powered by Panasonic’s rugged TOUGHBOOK G2 tablet. The move marks a major step forward in how the service records, shares and safeguards patient data across Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care system.

The MobiMed system allows crews to record and transmit vital information, such as ECGs, observations and medical history, in real time. Hospital teams can view these details while the patient is still enroute, helping them prepare and make decisions before the ambulance even arrives.

“The technology enables efficient sharing of patient information to enhance continuity of care across the Health and Social Care system in Northern Ireland. This keeps NIAS at the forefront of digital transformation supporting emergency medical care now and into the future.”

Neil Trelford, Project Development and Implementation Manager, NIAS.

NIAS operates across challenging terrain, delivering emergency and urgent care, non-emergency transport, and specialist services to around 1.9 million people. Reliability in the field was crucial when choosing the right technology to support its crews.

Following extensive trials, NIAS selected the Panasonic TOUGHBOOK G2, a 2-in-1 device designed to handle the demands of ambulance environments. It’s IP65-rated for protection against drops, vibrations and weather and its extended battery life of up to 18.5 hours ensures crews can work through long shifts without interruption.

Connectivity has also been a focus. Each of the 175 emergency vehicles in the rollout has been fitted with 4G-enabled routers using dual-SIM technology, allowing the tablets to stay online even in remote areas. If the signal drops, patient records are stored locally and synced automatically once the connection returns.

“The G2 is particularly suited for use in ambulances and fast-response vehicles, which are inherently very unforgiving and aggressive environments. Its IP65-rated protection and military-grade durability protects it against drops, vibrations and extreme weather. This allows NIAS crews to accurately input vital information into the MobiMed solution without any fear of damage or downtime.”

Will Holmes, Business Manager (Public Sector), Panasonic TOUGHBOOK.

The TOUGHBOOK’s detachable design lets crews switch between touchscreen and keyboard input inside or outside the vehicle, accommodating users with different preferences and technical experience. Quick-access buttons for flashlight, Night Mode and other field-use shortcuts have been added and digital signature capture allows for smoother patient interaction and compliance.

Since going live, NIAS crews have created over 100,000 digital patient records, each one feeding into ‘encompass’, Northern Ireland’s integrated Health and Social Care programme. The system forms part of the Department of Health’s wider e-Strategy, which aims to make patient information available when and where it’s needed, with the right safeguards in place.

Panasonic is exhibiting at The Emergency Tech Show 2026, taking place from 16-17 September at the NEC in Birmingham. You can find them on Stand B85. Register your interest in attending here.

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