LIVES could be saved by a traffic beating paramedic motorbike that cuts emergency response time.

The new £14,000 Fast Response bike is being tested for six weeks by Lancashire Ambulance Service on the congested streets of Preston.

Used in life-threatening situations it arrives at an emergency scene before an ambulance so the patient can start receiving treatment and have their condition stabilised.

Michael Bichard, District Manager for Preston District Ambulance Service said: "The vital minutes that are saved could mean the difference between life and death."

He described the impressive services available on board the bike: "It is fully kitted out as a paramedic vehicle and has all the drugs."

The bikes are already in frequent use by the London Ambulance Service and are a vital tool in beating traffic jams.

Experienced Lancashire Paramedic David Roberts mans the bike after being fully trained in motorbike riding by Lancashire Police.

The initiative is another development by the service, building on the recently introduced Pre-arrival advice system which gives 999 callers telephone instruction on how to help a patient whilst waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

David Hill, Lancashire Ambulance Service's Chief Executive said: "As one of the leading ambulance services in the country we think it is important not only to maintain our very high standards but to actively work to continually improve the service to our patients."

The trials also coincide with the testing of a paramedic estate car in the Ribble Valley.

Both will take place over six weeks and full implementation of the services will depend on NHS funding.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.