This morning, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and very experienced team member Steve Fletcher journeyed to the brand new NWAS (GMA) ECC at Parkway 3, Parkway Business Park, Princess Road, Manchester, to give a presentation on the roles, capabilities and resources of mountain rescue teams within Greater Manchester when acting in support of the North West Ambulance Service (Greater Manchester Area)

Garry and Steve were met by ECC Trainer Claire O’Sullivan, who introduced them to the four ‘students’ they had come to talk to, who are currently EMDs (Emergency Medical Despatchers) who are all changing roles to become Despatchers (Emergency Ambulances)

Garry and Steve gave a presentation lasting ninety minutes, with many interesting questions asked, being followed by a look at one of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Land Rover Ambulance vehicles.

Their presentation over, and with thanks offered, ECC Trainer James Masterman then gave Garry and Steve an excellent guided tour of the new Emergency Control Room, which handles circa 900 to 1000 emergency calls a day.

The ECC is linked to similar ECCs at Broughton, Lancashire and Merseyside, covering and co-ordinating Ambulance responses in all parts of the NWAS region.

The ECC visit was very interesting, with an offer made to small parties of the rest of the Bolton MRT to visit in the future.

Garry and Steve would like to extend full thanks to the ECC Trainers at NWAS (Manchester) ECC for the invitation to talk about the use of mountain rescue by NWAS within Greater Manchester, and how our capabilities and equipment can best be utilised by NWAS.

Thanks also to the various despatchers and the Control Room Manager who made Garry and Steve most welcome during their informative tour of the impressive ECC.