A PILOT blue-light scheme launched by the emergency services has saved lives - and taxpayers’ cash.

The collaboration has seen Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service team up with South Central Ambulance Service to help them gain entry to patients who need assistance quickly.

During the one-year trial, firefighters attended 1,347 calls - which saved the ambulance service an average of 20 minutes on each occasion - or 56 working days.

This lets ambulance crews access their patients quickly and get back on the road again to take a casualty to hospital or attend another incident.

Assistant chief officer Stew Adamson, who is in charge of project, said: “This is a fantastic example of how blue light services can work together to protect the people of Hampshire and provide the public with the best possible value for money.

“We are often able to attend these incidents quicker than police which means the ambulance can get to the people who need help quicker and the police have more time to fight crime.

“We are also better equipped to gain entry with ladders and various bits of kits.

“On some occasions we have been able to gain access through windows which again leads to less delays - and less stress for the public.”

The scheme is one of a series of examples of the collaborative work by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and its partner agencies, which has been recognised by the past two home secretaries.

In an exchange with Winchester MP Steve Brine on the service’s achievements before becoming Prime Minster, Theresa May described the blue light services as the “apple of her eye”.

In January, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service rolled out a new scheme to provide medical bags, containing defibrillators, to all fire officers for use on and off-duty.

The service, which responds to more than 10,000 calls a year, was also recently shortlisted for a prestigious gong for collaborative work at the Excellence in Fire and Emergency awards.

ACO Adamson added: “Blue light collaboration is all about providing the best service possible for the public and we are committed to finding new and innovative ways of working together.”