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.
Thank you for requesting support for an Ambulance Marker. We will be in contact soon.
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