Ambulance Marker

Place an ambulance marker on your home address

What is an ambulance marker?

Specific patient or location information can be held on your local NHS Ambulance Service Trust patient record as a “marker” (previously known as a flag or warning in some instances). We strongly recommend that people with Vascular EDS have an ambulance marker in place.

In the event of an emergency, the presence of this marker (some ambulance services refer to as a patient specific instruction) should alert the 999 Emergency Medical Advisor (call handler) that there is a person at that address with a diagnosis of Vascular EDS.

The ambulance service specific notes usually include the patients diagnosis of Vascular EDS, possible symptoms, presentation, possible complications, care plan and transfer of care guidance. This may result in a more specific urgent treatment approach by the ambulance service.

Please note that the ambulance marker and a diagnosis of Vascular EDS does not necessarily mean you will receive an ambulance any sooner, the call handler will still triage the call in the same way as any other emergency call.

For advice on how to get an ambulance marker put in place, please complete the following form and we will contact you to talk you through the process.

Ambulance Marker Request

Patient First Name:

Patient Last Name:

Date of Birth:

Phone: 📞

Email:

Region:

NHS Number:

GP Surgery Name:

GP's Name:

GP Email Address:

Local Ambulance Service:

Free Text

Please note: Annabelle's Challenge cannot be held liable in the event of an emergency and the appropriate procedures not being followed and/or the response from the attending ambulance crew. Most medical markers/flags are only in place for 12 months and the doctor who organised it must be asked by the patient or their family/carer to renew it.

GP/consultant/specialist enquiries: If you are a HCP and require the ambulance marker template/patient form and email address for the patients local ambulance trust please call us on 0800 917 8495 or email us.

VERY IMPORTANT - EXTRA INFORMATION ONCE MEDICAL MARKER/ FLAG IS IN PLACE

Confirmation must be received that medical marker/ flag is in place.

In an emergency, CALL 999 and IF YOU ARE AT THE ADDRESS WITH THE MEDICAL MARKER/ RED FLAG, let the operator/emergency team know there is a medical marker / flag in place and confirm the diagnosis of Vascular EDS. If you are at a different address let them know the diagnosis of Vascular EDS.

In every medical emergency (even with a medical marker/ flag), present emergency blue wallet card / medical alert bracelet to ambulance crew - this can provide extra information to supplement the medical marker/ flag.

Most medical markers/ flags are only in place for 12 months and the doctor who organised it must be asked by the patient to renew it. The Ambulance trust must be contacted in the event of an address change.

Identify your local ambulance service

Frequently Asked Questions