A CAMPAIGN to ensure homes in remote rural communities can be pinpointed by ambulance crews on emergency calls has been launched today.

Community organisations and public service bodies throughout Cumbria have thrown their weight behind North West Ambulance Service's (NWAS) revolutionary "Point Taken" campaign which aims to allay the fears of those living in rural communities that an ambulance will be unable to find their property in the case of an emergency.

NWAS is encouraging worried members of the public to contact them to ensure their property is visible on the trust's mapping system.

Preparatory work has shown that over 99% of Cumbrian properties are instantly visible to the maps held in NWAS Emergency Control but, to identify those which are more difficult to spot, the trust will use a variety of techniques to find it, even down to visiting the property and taking a grid reference number if necessary.

Any additional information which is gathered will then be stored in the trust's CAD system alongside the telephone number and address of the property.

If the campaign proves successful it will be rolled out throughout the rest of the North West.

Members of the public can register using one of three methods.

The trust's preferred method for contact is via the web-based form available at www.nwas.nhs.uk/pointtaken. But members of the public can also call 0845 1120019 to give details over the telephone or they can collect and complete a form which is available wherever a Point Taken poster is being displayed such as doctors, dentists and council offices.

The trust is working closely with organisations such as Cumbria County Council, the National Farmers Union (NFU), Cumbria Constabulary, Cumbria PCT and the Diocese of Carlisle to ensure news of the Campaign gets to those who it may benefit most.

Information packs containing leaflets and posters are also being made available to other community associations such as the Women's Institute, Townswomen's Guild, Rotary Clubs, 41 Clubs, Lions Clubs which should contact the Point Taken team if required.