Time-critical stroke care has taken a transformative step forward in the East of England thanks to a pioneering collaboration between Excelerate Technology and the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) that enables frontline crews to consult stroke specialists via video in areas previously cut off from reliable mobile coverage.
By ensuring hospital-grade connectivity from the roadside, NHS clinicians are now able to diagnose earlier, convey more appropriately to specialist stroke care centres and respond more efficiently in the East of England, whenever a stroke is suspected.
Stroke is a clinical emergency where ‘time is brain’ and every minute of delayed treatment can result in the loss of 1.9 million neurons, the cells that transmit information through the human body and form the fundamental blocks of the nervous system. The difference between a timely diagnosis and a missed window can mean permanent disability or death.
Mobile Stroke Video Triage (SVT) allows paramedics to assess symptoms in real time, consult hospital specialists, and direct patients to the most appropriate pathway – whether thrombolysis, thrombectomy, or outpatient Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) clinics.
But until now, poor signal in rural and coastal regions within the East of England ambulance service patch has forced paramedics to err on the side of caution and convey patients to A&E, even when stroke was unlikely. These unnecessary admissions add pressure to emergency departments and delay treatment for patients who really do need specialist stroke care.
Excelerate’s Excell system integrates a long-range cellular antenna with a bonded router that intelligently combines network links for superior coverage. Deployed across five EEAST vehicles as part of a live trial between October 2024 and July 2025, the technology achieved:
- A 93% reduction in reported SVT connectivity issues
- 100% connection success in areas with officially “no mobile signal”
- 64% of jobs reporting strong-to-excellent signal strength
One crew operating in a coastal Chelmsford postcode, flagged by Ofcom as having zero coverage, achieved uninterrupted video consultation throughout the incident – validating the system’s ability to deliver emergency-grade connectivity in the most challenging conditions.
With 40% of SVT consultations now conducted from vehicles fitted with Excell, crews report renewed confidence in using mobile triage pathways. Feedback from paramedics highlights how dependable connections allow them to avoid unnecessary hospital conveyances and streamline patient care, with one saying, “I didn’t have to do anything to connect – the connection was stable throughout. The Stroke Team could book directly into a TIA clinic, avoiding an unnecessary admission.”
Brittany Farthing, Clinical Lead for Stroke Video Triage for East of England Ambulance NHS Trust says: “Stroke Video Triage has been live in the East of England since 2022, and reliable connectivity is essential to unlocking the full potential of this technology – and indeed, all remote care solutions. This trial with Excelerate demonstrates how connectivity challenges can be addressed, and we’ve shared our findings with other UK Ambulance Service NHS Trusts as part of our ongoing collaboration.”
Bethan Evans, Chief Operating Officer at Excelerate Technology says: “For over two decades, Excelerate Technology has delivered mission-critical communications for emergency services and frontline responders across the UK and internationally. From incident command vehicles to mobile healthcare platforms, our solutions have supported NHS Trusts, fire brigades, and resilience teams with secure, high-speed connectivity in the most demanding environments.
“The success of the Excell trial within EEAST proves that robust mobile communications are not a luxury, but a clinical necessity. Reliable communication is non-negotiable in stroke response and this deployment demonstrates how technology can support faster triage decisions, improve patient outcomes, and relieve strain on challenged hospital services. We would like to expand this solution across other ambulance services and parts of the NHS where robust mobile connectivity can literally save lives and improve clinical outcomes.”
For more information and an informal chat about how Excelerate Technology could provide your local health and care system with enhanced connectivity please contact: BethanE@Excelerate.info
