COMMUNICATIONS company Thornton has played a key role in providing the country's first NHS walk-in doctor's surgery with the technology to ensure that its telecommunications facilities operates efficiently.

Thornton Communications, based in Winchester Road, Southampton, was commissioned to provide the voice communications systems including voice-messaging and automated greetings to callers to the state-of-the-art Shirley surgery which is among the first of its kind in the country.

The walk-in surgery in Howard Grove Road, is a NHS pilot scheme designed to help keep accident and emergency departments at hospitals free from minor cases. They allow people who are not registered with a GP to receive medical treatment promptly, without the need to take up valuable accident and emergency resources at a hospital.

It was Thornton's proven track record working for emergency and rescue services as well as many local authorities which led to the commission.

Engineer Doug Rolls said: "We have ensured that the system is extremely reliable and integrated with relevant safety devices such as panic alarms, making sure that staff and patients' needs were met.''

Sheila Brooke, lead nurse manager at the surgery, said: "Since the launch of the walk-in surgery in September we have found the communications systems have allowed us to operate effectively and efficiently. We were impressed with Thornton's professionalism and their unbeatable knowledge of their field.

"In our industry, communications systems have to be 100 per cent reliable - lives literally depend on it.''

Bernie Thornton, managing director of the communications firm, said: "This was a landmark contract for us and we are delighted to be associated with this pioneering pilot scheme.''