5G connected ambulance lets remote clinicians direct paramedics in real time using haptics
Sometimes the medical experts you need are hundreds of miles away but now they can be right there with the patient thanks to 5G.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2021) '5G connected ambulance lets remote clinicians direct paramedics in real time using haptics', 311 Institute, 2 October. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/5g-connected-ambulance-lets-remote-clinicians-direct-paramedics-in-real-time-using-haptics/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
The South Central Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust in the UK have just shown off their first 5G connected ambulance that enables the real time remote diagnosis of patients issues while they’re travelling in the ambulance, and seamlessly connects ambulance workers with surgeons and consultants back at a hospital in real time.
The ambulance was shown off at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust’s (UHB) simulation lab in a collaboration with BT to show how 5G can be used in healthcare to improve patient outcomes and help ambulance crews and clinicians diagnose and treat patients faster before they get to the hospital.
During the demonstration he team showed off a paramedic working from an ambulance in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham who was connected over the 5G network to a clinician based over two miles away at UHB’s Medical Devices Testing and Evaluation Centre.
Wearing a specially equipped Virtual Reality (VR) headset the clinician was able to see exactly what the paramedic saw in the ambulance, and then using a joystick they were able to remotely direct the paramedic in real time to perform the necessary scans, as well as get important close up footage of the wounds and injuries of a patient.
The clinician did this by speaking to the paramedic to look in a particular direction, or, in the case of a scan, by sending control signals over the live 5G network to a robotic or haptic glove worn by the paramedic that used small vibrations to guide the paramedics hand to where the clinician wanted the ultrasound sensor to be moved. This allowed the clinician to remotely control the sensor position, whilst seeing the images in real time.
There was also a camera in the ambulance which transmitted a high definition view of the paramedic and patient. Together with live feeds of the patient’s ultrasound scan, the clinician was then able to recognise vital signs and view medical records in real time in VR.
David Rosser, UHB chief executive, said: “The characteristics of 5G mean it should provide many advantages, including speeding up diagnoses for patients and potentially reducing the number of ambulance and A&E department visits. In particular, being able to perform diagnoses remotely means a doctor or clinician could determine an appropriate care pathway without necessarily having to see someone in hospital.”
Fotis Karonis, 5G executive lead for BT Enterprise added: “Not only is 5G capable of ultrafast speeds it has much lower latency meaning there is little to no delay when transmitting data over the network. This means things happen in ‘real time’ so this is of significant interest to the NHS because of its potential for medical applications, such as diagnostics and preventative healthcare. This capability provides efficiency opportunities for both hospital and ambulance trusts by reducing the number of referrals into hospital and patient trips.”
What this means for your organisation
Network delay becomes a clinical risk.
BT's Fotis Karonis said 5G has much lower latency, so there is little to no delay in data. When a clinician steers a paramedic's hand from afar, any lag affects care. Time sensitive networking, which aims to make data arrive at a guaranteed time, is worth watching for this reason.
Touch carries the expert's skill.
The remote clinician sent control signals to a haptic glove. Small vibrations guided the paramedic's hand to where the ultrasound sensor should go. Haptics is already at technology readiness level 9, so the harder work is training and clinical sign-off.
Value sits in fewer hospital trips.
David Rosser of UHB said remote diagnosis could let a clinician choose a care pathway without seeing someone in hospital. BT said this could reduce referrals and patient trips. Wearable ultrasound is still early, but it points to scans needing less equipment on the vehicle.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Where does delay in our networks change a clinical or operational decision?
- Which diagnoses could a remote expert make with live video and scans?
- What training would crews need to work with a remote clinician?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Sometimes the medical experts you need are hundreds of miles away but now they can be right there with the patient thanks to 5G.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 2 October 2021. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2021). 5G connected ambulance lets remote clinicians direct paramedics in real time using haptics. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/5g-connected-ambulance-lets-remote-clinicians-direct-paramedics-in-real-time-using-haptics/
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