KENT Ambulance NHS Trust is one of the first ambulance trusts in the country to equip some of its staff with high-tech guardian angels.

Staff in the Fleet department will receive lone worker devices which use the very latest in mobile phone technology.

Fleet staff, who often find themselves working alone on stations, can now feel safe in the knowledge that if they have an accident they can alert someone in the trust’s emergency control room.

The device, which resembles an ID card holder, allows a one-way phone line to be opened. The member of staff can then relay a message to someone in the control room who can then arrange for help to be sent.

The trust has purchased 12 devices for its Fleet department from TrackaPhone.

Fleet manager Dave Tappenden said: "The safety of our staff is very important. These devices will allow our Fleet staff to feel save in the knowledge that if they should have an accident help is just a button away."

The chairman of Trackaphone, Phil Derry, said: "The Identicom Badge units are simple to wear, and if a member of staff finds themselves in a situation where they need help, simple buttons on the back of the unit activate alarms and a voice channel can be recorded for evidential reasons in the case of abuse.

"The location of the event is also displayed on an internet map so that the member of staff can easily be located on TrackaPhones People Locator platform.

"TrackaPhone are delighted to have been selected by Kent Ambulance for this project which is a first in UK ambulance services."

Devices are to be given to staff at Herne Bay, Maidstone, Medway, Thameside and Thanet.