New research conducted by SOTI reveals alarming trends among emergency services workers in the UK, with a staggering 95% reporting significant issues with mobile devices. The study, part of SOTI's latest report titled "Digitising the Frontline: Transformative Technologies in Critical Care," surveyed 100 frontline personnel from the UK's police, ambulance, and fire and rescue services, among 900 global emergency services workers.

Key findings indicate that device and app-related problems are leading to delays in accessing digital incident records and essential location information, ultimately impeding response times and compromising patient care. Notably, two-thirds of respondents emphasize the urgent need for optimized field technologies to enhance response efficiency.

Reported issues include poor battery health (34%), device crashes (24%), and slow uploads of digital forms (26%), with some forms failing to function altogether (14%). Resolving these technical challenges often takes between 20 to 60 minutes, contributing to increased stress levels among 65% of emergency services workers.

Stefan Spendrup, VP of Sales, Northern and Western Europe at SOTI, underscores the critical role of reliable technology in emergency scenarios, stressing the importance of real-time diagnostic intelligence for predictive issue resolution by central IT teams.

Furthermore, the study highlights security concerns stemming from the continued reliance on traditional pen-and-paper methods due to recurring technical difficulties. Nearly half of the respondents resort to using personal devices for work purposes, citing frustrations with employer devices or the lack thereof. Spendrup emphasizes the risks associated with personal device usage, including software vulnerabilities and cybersecurity threats.

Even employer-issued devices are not immune to challenges, with over half being shared among workers. This sharing culture underscores the need for user profiling to safeguard sensitive information and ensure data security.

Spendrup concludes by reiterating the pivotal role of technology in emergency response, emphasizing the need for seamless, reliable solutions to uphold public trust and ensure swift, efficient care delivery.