FOI 26-176 Triage System Annual Costs
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 26-176 Triage System Annual Costs
- Request Date
- 02 Apr 2026
- Response Date
- 17 Apr 2026
- Information Requested
With respect to Terrafix and vehicle location system. Does that cost include hardware as well do you know?
With respect to the triage system; I can see that the service employs the MPDS system which is owned by the IAED. Would it be possible then to outline the annual costs paid to the IAED and perhaps a list of what that provides if it is more than the triage system?
- Response
In relation to the Terrafix electronic patient record and vehicle location system, the Scottish Ambulance Service can confirm that the Service purchases the required hardware directly, while Terrafix manages and supports the system, including the software and associated services.
The annual costs previously provided relate to system management and maintenance and do not include a single consolidated figure covering both hardware and services. The Scottish Ambulance Service does not hold a separate itemised breakdown of these costs.
The Scottish Ambulance Service uses the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) for call triage, which is implemented through the ProQA software supplied and licensed by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED).
The Scottish Ambulance Service holds information relating to an Enterprise Maintenance Agreement (EMA) with IAED. This agreement covers ongoing maintenance and licensing arrangements associated with IAED products, including the use of MPDS implemented via ProQA. Costs are held at an aggregated contractual level, alongside other associated elements.
However, the Scottish Ambulance Service does not hold a separate, itemised breakdown of annual costs attributable solely to MPDS, ProQA, or IAED. To provide a specific annual cost for the triage system alone, or to disaggregate the EMA costs further, would require analysis and interpretation of contract information.
Accordingly, in terms of section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, the Scottish Ambulance Service does not hold this information in the form requested.
Without prejudice to the above, the Scottish Ambulance Service also notes that detailed breakdowns of contract pricing, discount structures, and component‑level costs form part of commercially sensitive contractual arrangements. Disclosure of such information would be likely to substantially prejudice the commercial interests of both the supplier and the Scottish Ambulance Service. Were such itemised information held, consideration would be given to section 33(1)(b) of the Act.
