Command & Control (C2)
This interoperable capability revolves around highly trained and experienced ambulance staff providing command and control during high-risk and complex emergency situations.
The aim is generally to deploy specially trained and equipped ambulance staff as quickly and safely as possible in order to treat patients, save lives and extricate people from the scene as effectively as possible.
The key features of this capability are:
- Strategic command of major and critical incidents
- Tactical command of major and critical incidents
- Operational command of major and critical incidents
- National Interagency Liaison Officers (NILOs)
- Strategic and Tactical Advisors
- Medical Advisors
Command is an interoperable capability to ensure a high level of consistency. All English Ambulance Trust Commanders are trained not only to command NHS pre-hospital resources during a major incident, but also to manage teams of specialist responders from across the country.
When there is a large or complex incident, it is common for HART and SORT resources to cross traditional Ambulance Trust boundaries to provide a combined response to the incident. The host Ambulance Service Commanders need to be competent to manage these mutual aid deployments.
Ambulance Commanders train and exercise frequently as part of their continued professional development. They also train jointly with their counterparts from Police, Fire and Rescue and the Military.