HAMPSHIRE Ambulance Service has hit the jackpot with lottery funding for 69 of the latest defibrillators for its emergency vehicles.

The award, from the New Opportunties Fund of the National Lottery, will be a boost for the treatment of heart-attack victims.

The new Lifepak 12 defibrillators will allow results of diagnosis by the machines to be transmitted to coronary care units so doctors can give advice to crews and make relevant preparations to receive patients.

A pilot scheme at Basingstoke hospital has been pathfinding for the new set-up.

Ambulance trust chief executive Richard Mawson told The Gazette: "This award is enough for every emergency vehicle including the rapid response vehicles.

"We received all the equipment we asked for. To be able to improve right across the board is really exciting.

"Time delay is critical, particularly in cardiac patients.

"At the moment the equipment is good, but this new equipment is the next generation.

"All the staff have gone through training on these new devices which will be a platform for future developments."

Mr Mawson said there is even the possibility of introducing the use of temporary pacemakers as a result of the new devices, but such a move has not yet been discussed.

He said: "The first steps are to co-ordinate with cardiac units.

"It is because of the trials in Basingstoke that we have got the Lifepak 12 equipment."