A NEW rapid response service that can instantly track people and their medical details in an emergency has been launched by a Norton businessman.

Stuart Stead, a systems analyst who spent £30,000 and two years developing his Safe-T crisis systems, has now formed Alert Limited with members of his family at a Church Street office.

Already 20 people, mostly from Yorkshire, have subscribed to the Data Protection Act-registered service by inputting their private, medical histories, plus prescribed medications and next-of-kin details, all encrypted on a secure database.

They also give permission for their mobile phones to be tracked to pinpoint their whereabouts in an emergency.

If a subscriber with, for instance, a heart condition, is having some kind of seizure, one call to Alert will instantly place their whereabouts on screen, along with medical history, a list of medicines they have been taking and any allergies they might have to vital treatments such as penicillin.

The 999 emergency services are instantly given these details and the time saved could mean the difference between life and death.

A minimum cost for the service is £2 per month, including VAT, but Mr Stead, 49, points out that these are early days.

"I have already tested the system with a million theoretical incidents and it purrs through it all," he said.

Mr Stead, who was a database developer with The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, NatWest and Barclays Capital, added: "We are an adjunct to, not a replacement for, the 999-emergency service, but we provide a tracking service they do not.

"We know the allergies and medications of all our members and give paramedics vital information in life-threatening situations.

"Any emergency service receiving a call from us knows it is genuine and our information up-to-date.

"In crime-related incidents, our call-logging and monitoring provides an audit trail that will assist police investigations."

The 24 hour per day, 365 days per week service also tracks urgent landline calls.

Mr Stead describes it as a safety net for all ages, including those living alone, the sick and elderly.

There are also business packages designed to cover people at risk, such as employees doing dangerous jobs, sole traders travelling frequently and workers meeting strangers.

The first business member to sign up to Safe-T is Tina Wilson-Kallagher, who runs Temptation, a lingerie and swimwear shop in Pickering.

She said: "It's a sad fact that crime and disorder are on the increase and a system like this gives users peace of mind. I like the idea of securely updating my medical details and knowing they are fully and immediately available if needed.

"As a businesswoman, I can see the cost-effective protection afforded to employees through caring companies."