Ambulance UK August 2025

Volume 39 No. 16 

August 2025 

DEDICATED TO THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND ITS SUPPLIERS 

Celebrating a decade of 

FREC ® 3 

2025 marks 10 years of the groundbreaking prehospital care qualification. 

PAGE 3 

We explore how FREC ® 3 changed the landscape of prehospital care training 

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CONTENTS 

CONTENTS 

Ambulance UK 

4 EDITOR’S COMMENT 

7 FEATURE 

7 CARDIAC ARREST – HAVE WE GOT THIS RIGHT? 

11 NEWSLINE 

26 IN PERSON 

30 COMPANY NEWS 

This issue edited by: 

Matt House 

c/o Media Publishing Company 

Greenoaks, Lockhill 

Upper Sapey, Worcester, WR6 6XR 

ADVERTISING: 

Terry Gardner, Samantha Marsh 

CIRCULATION: 

Media Publishing Company 

Greenoaks, Lockhill 


Tel: 01886 853715 

E: info@mediapublishingcompany.com 

www.ambulanceukonline.com 

COVER STORY 

FREC ® 3: A decade of shaping Prehospital Care training 

This year marks a major milestone in prehospital care education as the Qualsafe Level 3 

Award in First Response Emergency Care (RQF), better known as FREC ® 3, celebrates 

its 10th anniversary. 

Launched in 2015, FREC ® 3 was a bold and much-needed response to a fragmented 

landscape of first response training. It challenged the status quo, offering a regulated, 

clinically robust, and accessible entry point into prehospital care. Often described as 

a “gateway qualification”, it’s the first step on the clinical ladder for many, with clear 

progression routes into more advanced prehospital roles. 

PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY: 

February, April, June, August, 

October, December 

COPYRIGHT: 

Media Publishing Company 

Greenoaks 

Lockhill 


PUBLISHERS STATEMENT: 

The views and opinions expressed in 

this issue are not necessarily those of 

the Publisher, the Editors or Media 

Publishing Company 

Next Issue October 2025 

Over the last decade, FREC ® 3 has empowered over 50,000 learners, from NHS first 

responders and international rescue teams to event medics and door supervisors. Its 

structured, progressive framework has not only helped raise standards but also enabled 

countless employers to build safer, better-prepared teams. 

Designed in the UK by TGDH 

This year FREC ® 3 has evolved again, with the release of a major qualification update 

which improves assessment, flexibility, and adds five new optional practical assessments 

– ideal for tailoring the qualification to roles in police, fire services, ambulance services, 

and other high-risk sectors. 

As the demands placed on first responders grow more complex, FREC ® 3 remains 

focused on real-world application, providing learners with the confidence, competence, 

and clinical grounding they need to make a difference when it matters most. 

One thing is clear: FREC ® 3 is more than just a qualification - it’s a launchpad for 

future lifesavers. 

AMBULANCE UK – AUGUST 

For more information on FREC ® 3, visit www.qualsafe.org. 

Do you have For anything further recruitment you would vacancies like to add visit: or include? www.ambulanceukonline.com 

Please contact us and let us know. 

3

EDITOR’S COMMENT 

EDITOR’S COMMENT 

Welcome to this issue of AUK 

As I read through the articles for this edition of Ambulance UK, I was impressed again by the enthusiasm, 

dedication and drive of the people I read about. In the fast-paced world of the ambulance sector we need 

people with those characteristics to drive developments and improvement. 

“This experience 

has reminded me 

that to maintain 

my own health 

and well-being, 

I need to step 

away from work 

to concentrate 

on some Army 

Reserve training” 

We sometimes hear that you should bring your whole self to work, or similar phrases. The people I have read 

about here certainly appear to be doing that. However, like us all, their drive and motivation will wax and 

wane a little with time. That is natural. None of us can be at our best the whole time. Sometimes you can feel 

that in yourself, or others may notice it in you. At other times, you only recognise that you have been in a lull 

when you come out the other side. 

I had that experience recently. I didn’t realise that I wasn’t on good form. Then I had a few days off from 

work to concentrate on some Army Reserve training. I completed a Roll Fitness Test, which I have to say at 

my age is a little harder than it used to be. I then completed some military parachute jumps. Although I enjoy 

jumping, there is still that feeling of adrenaline and then relief when I land safely. Following the physical and 

mental demands of those few days, I felt much better in myself than I had for some time. It also helped me at 

work. I hadn’t appreciated how my attitude to work had changed, but now it was much better again. I was 

back on an even keel. 

This experience has reminded me that to maintain my own health and well-being, I need to step away from 

work and do something impactful for myself now and again. This will not just benefit me, but it will also 

improve my output at work. Having had this time out to reflect and then reading about the achievements of 

the people in this edition has certainly inspired and refocused me at work. 

Matt House, Co-Editor Ambulance UK 

Publishers Statement 

Dear reader, since 1986 thanks to trade support, we have been able to provide you with bi-monthly copies of Ambulance UK FREE OF 

CHARGE, however due ever increasing print and postal costs coupled with reduced levels of support, we have been forced to reduce 

our frequency to quarterly with effect from March 2026. Why are some suppliers not supporting us? One obvious reason is budget 

restrictions, the other is uncertainty as to whether Ambulance UK is being seen and read by decision makers and those who can 

influence purchasing decisions, therefore to dispel this concern, if you are involved in Management, Procurement, Staff Training, are a 

Paramedic, a CFR, a BASICS member or are involved with HART, Ambulance Service Communications, Operations, or Fleet 

Management we really would really appreciate you spending 2 minutes of your time to simply email your name and job title to 

info@mediapublishingcompany.com. If you do not want to submit your name a simple “I enjoy reading Ambulance UK” message and your job 

title will suffice. 


This information will hopefully confirm to the Trade that Ambulance UK is being received and read by key personnel and therefore 

warrants their advertising support, which in turn will enable us to continue providing you with a dedicated publication FREE OF CHARGE 

In addition, should you enquire about a product advertised, please mention Ambulance UK as this will also confirm that we are reaching 

the right people. 

Thank you in anticipation and I would like to thank to following companies for their advertising support as without their contribution towards 

our print and postal costs this issue would not have been published. 

Alpha Labs, Axnar, Bluelight UK, DS Medical, EVS Europe, Intersurgical, MEDACX, Med Learn Training, Ortus, Outreach, 

Proact, Qualsafe 

Terry Gardner 

Publisher 

4 

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FEATURE 

CARDIAC ARREST – 

HAVE WE GOT THIS RIGHT? 

Martin Fagan – CEO of the ‘Live is Life Foundation’ charity 

• Are we placing AEDs and training in the right geographical 

locations? - Figures show that the survivability from cardiac arrest 

in a rural community is 30 per cent less than in urban communities. 

This number then drops to 50 per cent in rural areas which have 

higher levels of deprivation. 

He says: “It is not just about buying a defibrillator, it is about 

implementing a solution.” He adds: “Essentially, a defibrillator is simply 

a box of electronics which if not used correctly, is no more capable 

of saving someone's life than a mobile phone.” The process in which 

a defibrillator is used is known as the chain of survival. Helping 

people understand that this is also about education, may change 

these statistics. 

Over 60,000 people a year in the UK suffer a sudden cardiac 

arrest, resulting in death in approximately 97 per cent of cases if 

left untreated. And staggeringly, for every 100 meters that someone 

is away from a defibrillator the survivability of a sudden cardiac 

arrest halves. 

Over the past 17 years, the increase in community defibrillators, 

which now number over 100,000 in the UK, has seen survival from 

community to hospital, as measured by RoSC, increase to around 

25% (UK Ambulance statistics). However the 30 day survival is still 

around 9%, and has not changed significantly for over 10 years. Why 

is this? Particularly given the numbers of AEDs and the large numbers 

of people being trained in CPR. Have we got something wrong? Where 

can we do better? 

During cardiac arrest, clinical studies show that the heart degrades 

by 20 per cent per minute in humans, but this degradation can be 

stopped by starting chest compressions. “The sooner you get into 

those chest compressions, the sooner you are pumping blood 

around the body, so the body stops dying giving you time to get a 

defibrillator.” Says Fagan. “Teaching Basic Life Support in schools, 

workplaces, as part of the driving test all help get this message across 

to more people”. 

Martin Fagan, CEO of the International charity, the Live is Life 

Foundation, an international charity which supports the UK’s and 

EU communities in the correct provision of resuscitation tools such 

as defibrillators, trauma and anaphylaxis, says understanding the 

signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest by the public, plus giving the 

confidence to give help, is key. What is clear is that despite the training 

and numbers of AEDs available several things are apparent: 

• The public still lack the confidence to help, particularly where the 

patient is female. 

• 75% of all out of hospital SCA happen in places of residence 

(homes, care homes, mobile homes) 

• Are we ignoring obvious adjuncts to life saving (e.g. 

pharmaceuticals)? 

• Is the training we are doing, right? AHA takes the view poor CPR is 

a waste if time, yet in the UK we take the view any CPR is of help. 

Which is right? Are both? 

• Can new technology in AEDs help? 

• How do we address the up to 30% of AEDs that are out of action 

at any point in time? Should all AEDs be ‘monitored’ like the new 

regulations from 2027 in the EU? 

New technology 

“A picture paints a thousand words” – AEDs exists now that have 

visual displays. These have been shown to increase confidence and 

usage by the untrained public. Other new technologies are coming 

such as ultraportable devices (e.g. ViVest P series; HeartHero), and 

the increase in connected devices which allow real time monitoring 

by clinicians away from the rescue. Drone technology opens up 

rapid deployment in difficult to access areas, not only of AEDs but 

full medical kits with real time video of the incident. Repurposing of 

pharmaceutical products such as TXA and Naloxone will open up 

increased survivability of the patient if re-licensed for the public to 

use. Even replacing existing cabinets with monitored cabinets, such 


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7

FEATURE 

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rescue ready. The use of the standard internationally recognised 

ILCOR signage will reduce confusion and increase recognition of AED 

locations, and faster rescues. Why not have standard pads that can be 

used on all AED devices? 

The implementation of 5G and 6G opens up opportunities for real time 

monitoring of the incident, and the use of AI in AEDS can, for example, 

automatically change the instructions being given to the language 

detected. New personal tech such as the Pixel watch can alert the 

emergency services to an incident automatically. Work in Scotland and 

Canada is using new tools to predict the location of SCA’s and use 

this to suggest placements of AEDs and training. Early results show a 

higher level of survival where these tools are used. 

SCA is an international problem – Let’s share ideas and best practice! 

Defibrillators, trauma kits and anaphylxis kits all save lives and are part 

of the treatment for Resuscitation. This is not just about defibrillator 

placement or a numbers game. 

Cardiac arrest is a medical problem, but has a community solution. 

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE 

PROGRESSING TOWARDS HCPC 

APPROVAL: NEW VOCATIONAL 

PARAMEDIC DIPLOMA IN DEVELOPMENT 

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paramedicine. As an established clinical 

education provider with over a decade of 

experience in delivering paramedic and 

pre-hospital training, we’re committed 

to creating an accessible, work-based 

pathway to HCPC registration that fits 

the realities of life on the frontline. 

We spoke to Ian Thomas, Clinical Manager at Outreach Rescue, who 

is leading the HCPC submission and working closely with Qualsafe 

Awards to finalise course content. 

Ian, what stage are you at in the 

HCPC process? 

We’re currently preparing for Stage 2, which involves submitting the 

full course specification. That includes detailed module descriptors, 

placement arrangements, learning outcomes, assessment strategies, 

essentially the full academic and clinical package. 

If everything goes to plan, we’re confident we’ll achieve full approval by 

autumn 2025. 

Why is a vocational pathway to HCPC 

registration so important? 

Not everyone can commit to a full-time, three-year university degree. 

There’s a clear demand for a more flexible, work-based model. 

This diploma gives people already working in healthcare, or those 

switching careers, a structured, regulated route to HCPC registration 

without stepping away from their job or salary. 

How have your partnerships with HCPC 

and Qualsafe shaped the development of 

the course? 

Working closely with the HCPC from the start has allowed us to build 

a course that meets every requirement; clinical governance, quality 

assurance, fitness to practise, and more. 

At the same time, our collaboration with Qualsafe Awards, one of 

the UK’s largest Ofqual-recognised Awarding Organisations, has 

strengthened the vocational credibility of the programme. Their input 

ensures our course meets national standards for assessment and 

quality control while being directly aligned with industry needs. 

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Our course structure allows students to stay in work and study 

alongside their shifts. We use a blend of academic tutorials, practical 

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Because it’s Qualsafe-accredited, every module aligns with national 

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and ready to apply for HCPC registration. 

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10 


NEWSLINE 

College of 

Paramedics 

responds to 

Government’s 

new urgent and 

emergency care plan 

The College of Paramedics has 

described the Government’s 

Urgent and Emergency Care 

Plan as ‘a step in the right 

direction’ but ‘recognises that 

there will be many challenges 

to overcome before the full 

ambition of this plan can 

be realised’. 

The new plan published by 

the Department of Health and 

Social Care on June 6 marks 

a fundamental shift towards 

collaboration across the whole 

healthcare system, with more 

patients receiving care in the 

community, rather than being 

unnecessarily admitted into 

hospital. It also aims to reduce 

waiting times and handover 

delays, as well as provide 

up to 15 mental health crisis 

assessment centres to offer care 

and specialist support to those 

people experiencing a mental 

health crisis. 

Chief Executive of the College 

of Paramedics, Tracy Nicholls 

OBE said: “We welcome the 

publication of the UEC plan, 

which speaks candidly about the 

impact that system-wide issues 

have had on both our workforce 

and the patients we serve. There 

is a clear recognition that things 

must change, and the timely 

release of this plan, ahead of the 

challenging months to come is 

commendable. We believe this 

is definitely a step in the right 

direction but recognise that 

there will be many challenges to 

overcome before the plan’s full 

potential can be realised.” 

She added: “The plan sets out 

progressive structural proposals 

that have the potential to enhance 

public safety and strengthen 

paramedic autonomy. However, 

it may underestimate key 

challenges—including workforce 

readiness, the capacity of the 

mental health system, and 

practical implications of the 

Right Care, Right Person model. 

Without urgent alignment of 

funding, training, and alternative 

care pathways, there is a real 

risk that paramedics could 

be left navigating a reform 

process that shifts responsibility 

without equipping them with the 

necessary tools and support.” 

“We acknowledge that the 

system must rebuild—not only 

its performance, but also the 

public’s trust in our ability to 

meet these targets. The College 

of Paramedics supports the 

principles of the plan and 

welcomes its commitment to 

moving us toward a safer and 

more effective system.” 

“It profoundly 

impacted me:” 

Paramedic recalls 

moment that inspired 

him to work for the 

ambulance service 

on International 

Paramedics Day 

A paramedic who was 

profoundly affected by the 

death of a young boy killed 

by a motorbike was inspired 

to join the UK’s busiest 

ambulance service following 

the traumatic incident. 

London Ambulance Service 

Paramedic Caleb Garuba, from 

Newham, initially aspired to 

become a cardiothoracic surgeon 

when he witnessed a horrifying 

accident which was to change 

the direction of his life. 

Caleb shared his story to mark 

International Paramedics Day (July 

8) and encouraged Londoners 

to consider a career at London 

Ambulance Service. He recalled: 

“Everything changed on a fateful 

day while I was at my aunt’s shop. 

“I heard a frantic shout from 

outside. 

“Alarmed, I rushed outside to 

see what had happened, and my 

heart sank as I realised that a 

motorbike had struck a child. 

“The chaos that ensued was 

overwhelming, with people 

rushing to help the boy, who was 

lying motionless on the ground. I 

later learned that he died on his 

way to hospital. 

“This traumatic experience 

profoundly impacted me. In that 

moment, I realised the vital role 

that immediate care plays in 

traumatic situations.” 

Caleb joined London Ambulance 

Service 12 years later after 

being a paramedic in Nigeria for 

seven years. 

While this tragic incident drove 

Caleb to become a paramedic, 

he has experienced more uplifting 

moments where he has had a 

positive impact on patients and 

the wider community. 

He added: “About a year ago, 

I responded to a call about a 

cardiac arrest. The situation was 

critical, and we worked tirelessly 

to revive the patient. After what 

felt like an eternity, we managed 

to stabilise him, and he eventually 

spent days in the hospital 

recovering. 

“Knowing that he not only 

survived but is now thriving is 

an indescribable feeling. The 

highlight came when he reached 

out to express his gratitude and 

requested to meet the team that 

played a part in saving his life. 

“That moment was truly priceless. 

It was an incredible reminder of 

why I do this work—being able 

to help people during their most 

vulnerable moments is something 

I cherish deeply, and I never take 

it for granted. It brings a deep 

sense of satisfaction and purpose 

to my own life.” 

Since then, the patient has since 

become a passionate advocate 

for CPR training, sharing his story 

to highlight its importance. He 

encourages others to learn these 

life-saving skills, emphasising that 

you never know when someone 

might need assistance. 

Caleb continued: “Witnessing 

the impact of our efforts, not just 

on his life but on the community 

as well, filled me with pride and 

reaffirmed my commitment to this 

vital work. That moment will stay 

with me forever.” 

Launched in 2022, International 

Paramedics Day takes place 

on 8th July each year, marking 

the anniversary of the birth of 

Dominique-Jean Larrey, often 

referred to as the father of 

modern-day ambulance services. 

International Paramedics Day 

has been created by the College 

of Paramedics in the UK, with 

support from professional 

paramedics’ organisations from 

around the world. 



11

NEWSLINE 

Midwife at London 

Ambulance 

Service awarded 

for transforming 

emergency care for 

mothers and babies 

Dr Fenella Wrigley, Chief Medical 

Officer at London Ambulance 

Service, said: “Camella’s 

collaborative approach to this 

innovation has introduced 

consistency and structured 

guidance for ambulance crews as 

they care for pregnant or recently 

postpartum patients. 

“It helps ambulance crews 

“Nobody should have 

to deal with this, 

we are just trying to 

help” – unacceptable 

abuse takes its toll 

on 999 call handlers 

in BBC’s Ambulance 

documentary 

four separate callers on how 

to give chest compressions 

to people whose hearts have 

stopped beating until paramedics 

arrive to help. 

To manage this the staff are told 

to start terminating calls if the man 

does not require an ambulance, 

whereupon he becomes 

aggressive and calls them ‘scum’. 


An experienced midwife at 


has been presented with an 

award for revolutionising 

emergency care for pregnant 

and postpartum women across 

the UK. 

Camella Main was given 

the prestigious silver Chief 

Midwifery Officer Award in front 

of colleagues from ambulance 

services across the UK. 

The honour recognises Camella’s 

work in developing the life-saving 

Pre-Hospital Maternity Decision 

Tool – a set of guidelines that 

ambulance crews can refer to 

while at the patient’s side. 

Camella said: “I am honoured 

and humbled to receive this 

award. Working with ambulance 

service colleagues from around 

the country is a privilege and I 

am really grateful to the many 

stakeholders that contributed to 

the development of this tool. 

“We already have evidence it is 

keeping women and families safer 

which is the biggest reward of all.” 

Ambulance crews can refer 

to the Pre-hospital Maternity 

Decision Tool on their work 

iPads to identify abnormal signs 

and symptoms, ensuring timely 

and effective treatment for 

pregnant women. 

make faster, safer decisions – 

saving lives, reducing delays 

and improving communication 

with hospitals.” 

The guidelines are now 

used nationwide, improving 

outcomes and standardising 

care in unpredictable maternity 

emergencies. 

Dr Wrigley added: “Camella 

led the development of these 

guidelines and championed 

their adoption, provided training, 

collaborated with NHS bodies 

and dedicated personal time to 

ensure their success. 

“Her dedicated commitment has 

helped ambulance crews in the 

most stressful of situations – and 

of course that has benefited 

so many families in London 

and beyond.” 

Camella is part of a team of 

midwives at London Ambulance 

Service – one of the few services 

in the country to have a dedicated 

maternity team. 

They provide support crews 

through training, developing 

guidelines and working with 

maternity units. The training often 

involves simulation to allow crews 

to develop their skills in caring for 

birthing women. 

Crews at London Ambulance 

Service attend around 800 births 

every year. 

The harsh reality of verbal 

abuse on 999 call handlers 

came under the spotlight 

when a man bombarded 

staff with dozens of sexually 

suggestive calls in an episode 

of BBC One’s ‘Ambulance’ 

documentary. 


released figures to coincide with 

the programme which shows 

2025 is already looking to be 

worse than 2024 for physical 

and verbal abuse directed to 

staff by patients and members of 

the public. 

Physical assault and non-physical 

abuse is up 12% between 

January and the end of April this 

year compared with 2024 – with a 

shocking 781 incidents compared 

to 691. 

The impact of abusive behaviour 

on our teams was highlighted 

in this episode. Staff in LAS’s 

Newham control room are trying 

to help thousands of patients on 

999 calls when a malicious caller 

repeatedly rings to ask female 

staff to come to his home and 

other inappropriate questions 

about their sexual preferences. 

At one point he rings seven times 

in an hour while at the same time 

beleaguered staff are directing 

In the scenes caught on camera, 

emergency call co-ordinator Jude 

encapsulates the feelings of the 

whole control room team when 

he says: 

“It’s a very stressful job and you 

want to do everything in your 

power to make sure those in dire 

need get answered. When you 

have to deal with someone that’s 

abusing the system it has an 

effect. It plays on people’s minds. 

“When you call 999 it’s life and 

death situation. Dealing with 

someone foul or abusive, nobody 

should have to deal with that in 

the workplace. Everyone in this 

control room just wants to help.” 

The abusive caller’s number was 

passed to the police who then go 

and visit his property to get him 

to stop. 

At the end of the shift some of the 

staff recollect how unpleasant the 

caller has made their day. Jude 

reflects all he can do is to take 

time to remember the people they 

all have helped that day: 

“We have made a difference to a 

lot of people in some of the worst 

situations they have imagine to be 

in. You have to take that into your 

next shift.” 

Additional figures released from 

our staff survey show that 55% of 

staff working in our 999 control 

rooms experienced harassment or 

abuse from patients, their relatives 

or members of the public at least 

once in the past year. Almost a 

12 


NEWSLINE 

quarter of them had experienced it 

on more than ten occasions in the 

past 12 months. Meanwhile, more 

than a quarter faced unwanted 

sexual behaviour patients or the 

public during the same period. 

Violence and abuse against staff 

has been on the rise in recent 

years: there was an increase of 

11.3% of all violence, aggression 

and abuse incidents directed to 

London Ambulance Service staff 

in 2024 compared to 2023. 

Physical assaults increased by 

8% in 2024 compared to 2023, 

while verbal abuse increased by 

13% in 2024 compared to 2023. 

This works out at approximately 

seven reported incidents every 

day against ambulance crews 

and call handlers in London. 

It prompted the Service to join 

an ambulance-sector wide 

campaign #Workwithoutfear 

highlighting the effects that daily 

abuse can have on staff and 

volunteers, and making it clear 

the Service will push for the 

prosecution of perpetrators and 

the toughest possible sentences. 

Director of 999 Operations Stuart 

Crichton said: 

“Whilst the vast majority of our 

callers and patients are extremely 

courteous towards our staff, abuse 

– either verbal or physical – is 

unacceptable. Each of these calls 

also mean we are unable to answer 

the phone to someone who may 

be in a life-and-death situation. 

“Where this is no medical reason 

that could explain why a person 

is abusive or violent, we will 

work with police and partners to 

make sure we can take action 

and whenever possible push 

for prosecutions to prevent this 

behaviour and protect our staff.” 

LAS has a violence reduction 

team as part of its ongoing work 

to protect staff and volunteers. 

The officers work closely with the 

Metropolitan Police, supporting 

victims who want to take their 

cases to court and helping to 

secure tougher penalties. 

The Trust introduced body worn 

cameras in 2021 and introduced 

CCTV and audio recording 

equipment on all ambulances 

to aid investigations and help 

support criminal prosecutions. 

Patients with painful 

genetic condition 

to get faster access 

to specialist care 

they need 


and hospitals in south London 

have launched a new way to 

care for people experiencing a 

sickle cell crisis which means 

these patients can bypass 

busy emergency departments 

and be taken directly to 

specialist clinicians. 

Sickle cell disease is a genetic 

health condition that is 

particularly common in people 

with an African or Caribbean 

family background and which 

affects the red blood cells. It is 

a serious and lifelong condition, 

although treatment can help 

manage many of the symptoms. 

Symptoms include episodes 

of severe pain which can last 

several days – known as a sickle 

cell crisis – and people with the 

disease are at increased risk of 

other severe illnesses, such as a 

stroke and serious infections. 

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13

NEWSLINE 


The London Ambulance Service’s 

action plan to improve care for 

patients with sickle cell disease, 

published in April, recommended 

that ambulance clinicians work 

with NHS hospitals across the 

capital to develop ways to convey 

patients with the disease to 

dedicated sickle cell units rather 

than an emergency department. 

First set up at Hammersmith 

Hospital, LAS has now expanded 

the new care pathway to 

St George’s and Lewisham 

hospitals, which have expertise 

treating the condition beyond 

that found in a typical emergency 

department. 

Dr Fenella Wrigley, Chief Medical 

Officer and Deputy Chief 

Executive at London Ambulance 

Service, said: 

“We’ve listened to the needs 

of sickle cell patients and their 

families and fully recognise that 

they want ambulance crews and 

hospital clinicians advocating 

for them when they are going 

through some of most painful 

experiences of their lives. 

“We have therefore taken the 

first steps in our action plan with 

our NHS partners to provide 

personalised care for those 

suffering a sickle cell crisis. 

“Our dedicated teams and 

hospital partners have worked 

hard to implement these changes 

as quickly as possible so we can 

provide outstanding care to this 

group of patients with specific 

medical needs.” 

The new pathways in south 

London, in partnership with St 

George’s Hospital and Lewisham 

Hospital, enables patients to 

receive more timely and expert 

care from specialist clinicians 

at these dedicated units which 

means better pain management, 

fewer hospital admissions and 

shorter duration of treatment. 

Kate Slemeck, Managing Director 

for St George’s University 

Hospitals NHS Foundation 

Trust, said: 

“A sickle cell crisis causes 

severe pain, which can be very 

distressing for patients and their 

loved ones. This new service will 

ensure they are treated by our 

specialist teams as soon as they 

arrive at hospital, improving their 

overall care and experience. 

“Our dedicated centre treats 700 

children and adults with sickle 

cell disease every year, and we’re 

proud to continue to build on the 

care we provide by offering this 

new service for those who need 

us in an emergency.” 

Michael Barns, Lead Advanced 

Clinical Practitioner for the 

Hyper Acute Sickle Cell Unit at 

Lewisham Hospital, said: 

“We are proud to work closely 

with London Ambulance Service 

in ensuring improved access 

to our Acute Sickle Cell Unit at 

the hospital. 

“We have already begun to see 

the impact this pathway has on 

improving patient care, with an 

increasing number of referrals 

and faster patient access. We 

are working closely with London 

Ambulance Service to ensure 

continued improvement of this 

pathway as our operating hours 

increase over the next six months.” 

Teenage cardiac 

arrest survivor 

encourages 

Londoners to learn 

how to save a life 

A teenager whose life was 

saved by strangers while 

Christmas shopping is 

backing London Ambulance 

Service’s mission to 

train a generation in 

life-saving skills. 

Connor Clarke was just 

19-years-old when he 

collapsed in cardiac arrest last 

December. 

Fortunately, other shoppers 

rushed to help him including 

an off-duty nurse and GP who 

started CPR. A security guard 

quickly brought the shopping 

centre’s defibrillator and used it 

on Connor. 

London Ambulance Service has 

given free training to thousands 

of people in how to recognise 

cardiac arrest, perform chest 

compressions – also known 

as CPR – and how to use a 

defibrillator. 

The London Lifesavers 

Campaign also sees 

paramedics visit schools to 

teach Year 8 children these 

vital skills. 

Connor, a university student, 

said: “It is crucial to know CPR 

even on a basic level because 

anything could happen to 

anyone at any time. 

“To be in a situation like that 

and know you can help is really 

important.” 

The strangers who performed 

CPR on Connor after he 

collapsed allowed the blood 

and oxygen to keep pumping 

through his body until an 

ambulance arrived. 

Paramedic Ian Pullen said: “The 

bystanders in Connor’s case 

were doing such an amazing 

job at starting the chain 

of survival.” 

Connor needed five shocks 

before his heart started 

beating again. 

A team from London 

Ambulance Service took 

him to hospital by which 

time he was recovering so 

well, it was difficult for the 

hospital to understand what 

had happened. 

Advanced paramedic Andy 

Whitehouse said: “We had to 

go back and show them the 

download from the monitor 

he had been on because he 

appeared to be so well. That 

will partly be down to the 

excellent CPR he was given 

straight away.” 

Connor spent six days 

in hospital before being 

discharged home. After the 

Christmas holidays he was 

back at university studying 

economics. 

But on his Easter break he 

visited New Malden Ambulance 

Station to meet some of the 

team who helped to save his 

life including Andy, Ian and 

paramedics Jessie Keenan and 

Connor Looney. 

Andy added: “It’s great to see 

Connor doing so well. As an 

advanced paramedic, I attend 

many cardiac arrest and sadly 

not everyone survives. 

“It was so lucky in Connor’s 

case that his cardiac arrest 

happened where it did, with 

those people around him and 

when it did – every star aligned 

– but that’s also why it is so 

incredibly important to teach 

these skills and have access to 

public defibrillators.” 

14 


NEWSLINE 

Guernsey paramedic 

Andy marks 40 years 

of ambulance service 

on St John Day 

Guernsey’s longest serving 

paramedic, Andy Adam 

is celebrating 40 years 

of dedicated service to 

community. 

Andy’s career with the St John 

Ambulance and Rescue Service 

began in 1985, starting on 24th 

June, which coincidentally is St 

John Day. After a period with 

the Patient Transfer Service, 

he trained as an Emergency 

Medical Technician and then 

studied to qualify as a paramedic. 

However, his association with 

St John started many years 

before as a youth member of 

the first aid charity. As a cadet 

he successfully represented the 

island in national competitions 

and later become an 

adult volunteer. 

During his long career, Andy 

has been recognised for his 

consistent and dedicated support 

to the senior management team 

and his ongoing commitment to 

his work within the ambulance 

service. He was appointed as 

an Officer of the international 

Order of St John last year for his 

outstanding service. 

Andy said: “As a St John Cadet, 

attending first aid competitions 

throughout the UK I knew I 

had found my calling, then 

stepping through the station 

doors as a full-time member of 

the professional service was the 

beginning of a journey I could 

never have fully imagined. 

“It has been a varied and 

rewarding career, albeit not 

over yet. The profession has 

changed dramatically, we’ve seen 

advances in training, equipment, 

and clinical care, alongside a 

significant increase in call volume 

and complexity. But what has 

remained constant is the strength 

and support of the team around 

me. We’ve stood side by side 

through good times and difficult 

ones, and that camaraderie has 

made the journey possible. We’re 

more than colleagues we’re an 

extended family. It’s been an 

honour and a privilege to serve 

this community, and I’m proud 

to still be part of something 

so meaningful.” 

Andy is a hugely respected team 

leader and has been a Paramedic 

Station Officer for more than 

twenty years, he continues 

to be an active operational 

paramedic, responding to 

medical emergencies on a daily 

basis. He has been responsible 

for all major incident training 

within the ambulance service 

and also oversees the Volunteer 

Ambulance Reserves, ensuring 

a high level of resilience and 

support in the event of significant 

or major incidents. 

During his career Andy has 

served as a principle to the cliff 

rescue team and hyperbaric 

chamber team. He worked 

on the Flying Christine marine 

ambulance and the Inshore 

Rescue Boats and also provided 

valuable paramedic support to 

the smaller islands of Sark and 



15

NEWSLINE 


Alderney. Andy is very flexible 

and always willing to step in to 

support areas that are over and 

above his required commitments. 

In the midst of the Covid 

pandemic Andy played a vital role 

in the vaccination programme 

and spent time working in the 

Emergency Department of the 

Princess Elizabeth Hospital to 

give extra resilience. 

Asked about his most rewarding 

moments, Andy said: “A few 

notable moments would be 

achieving my paramedic 

registration, amongst the first 

in Guernsey; serving as both 

Hyperbaric decompression 

chamber Principal and Cliff 

Rescue Team Principal; receiving 

commendations from Chief 

Officers; facilitating Major 

Incident training exercises - and 

then recently being invested 

into the Order of St John 

and representing the Crown 

Dependencies at the VE Day 

procession in London earlier 

this year. So, I am lucky to 

have had such an interesting 

and diverse career with the 

Ambulance Service.” 

Chief Executive Officer of St 

John Ambulance and Rescue 

Service Mark Mapp said: “Andy 

marks an incredible milestone 

this St John Day—40 years 

of dedicated service to the 

ambulance profession. I’ve had 

the privilege of knowing Andy 

from the very start of my own 

career. As my former team leader, 

he was a valued mentor whose 

support and guidance helped 

shape my journey, as it has for so 

many others. 

“It’s fitting that this anniversary 

falls on St John Day, as Andy 

truly lives the values of the Order: 

In the Service of Humanity, 

with respect and kindness, 

unselfishness, a commitment to 

modern, excellent care, and an 

openness to learn. He shows a 

deep devotion to helping others, 

promotes togetherness through 

shared values, and upholds 

diversity, inclusion, and the vision 

of our founders. 

“With no immediate plans to step 

away, Andy continues to be a 

steady, inspiring presence—and 

we’re all the better for it.” 

“Being a volunteer 

within NEAS is 

something that I 

carry with great 

pride” – how an 

inspiring fatherdaughter 

duo 

is providing 

vital life-saving 

care in coastal 

Northumberland 

Andrew and Jade Park are not 

your typical father-daughter 

duo; in their spare time, 

they volunteer for the North 

East Ambulance Service 

as life-saving community 

first responders (CFRs) in 

the remote coastal town of 

Seahouses. 

Community first responders 

play an incredibly important role 

within the North East Ambulance 

Service. Working in their local 

communities, responders provide 

vital initial care to patients as 

ambulance crews make their way 

to the scene; something that can 

take longer than usual due to 

their remote locations. 

In 2024/25, the service’s CFRs 

responded to over 1,850 patients 

across it’s 3,200 square mile 

patch; spanning from the region’s 

borders with Scotland and 

Yorkshire. Serving a population 

of over 2.7million people, the 

service relies on CFRs to cover 

more rural or coastal locations 

where stations and hospitals are 

fewer or further away than that of 

the regions cities. 

Andrew first became aware of 

the need for another CFR in 

the Seahouses and Bamburgh 

area when he saw a post on 

Facebook that had been shared 

by the widow of a well-respected 

CFR who had attended a 

member of his family. 

He said: “Having experienced 

the care of community first 

responders first-hand, I was 

aware of the vital role they can 

play with early intervention, 

especially in a more rural 

community. Having witnessed 

a serious car accident a few 

months earlier, I wanted to be 

more helpful than I had felt in that 

situation. Also, if I could help to 

get the Seahouses kit operational 

again, it would be great for the 

community.” 

The North East Ambulance 

Service currently oversees the 

training and deployment of 112 

community first responders who 

have collectively volunteered over 

41,000 hours to the service in the 

past year. Alongside their roles 

within the ambulance service, 

responders are also often 

employed in full-time or part-time 

employment, or are using their 

retirements to give back to their 

communities. 

Andrew continues: “I have 

learned so much from 

volunteering as a CFR. From 

the initial 5-day training to every 

call I’ve been to, there’s always 

a nugget of knowledge to be 

gained. Going on an observation 

shift with a NEAS crew was 

invaluable. It allowed me to watch 

them work and enabled me to 

better prepare as a CFR for a 

crew’s arrival on scene.” 

Becoming a community first 

responder has had more than a 

positive impact on Andrew’s life; 

it inspired a career change! Next 

month he will begin his training 

as an apprentice ambulance 

support practitioner with the 

service, and dreams of joining his 

daughter Jade in a crew in the 

future. 

On having the opportunity to 

work alongside his daughter in 

their community, he said: “I’ve 

had the opportunity to attend 

multiple calls with my daughter 

who is the other community 

first responder in Seahouses. It 

fills me with pride to watch her 

interact with the patients and 

crews that we meet.” 

Jade’s following in Andrew’s 

footsteps aligned perfectly 

with her finishing sixth form. 

She said: “Having just finished 

sixth form and going on to 

apply to university after a gap 

year, becoming a CFR fit in 

perfectly with my desire for more 

experience towards my course. 

On top of this, past experiences 

where a first responder had 

come into my home to help 

a family member has greatly 

influenced my choice. Seeing the 

importance of a CFR up close 

made me realise how I could 

positively impact someone’s 

health and wellbeing. 

“The experience I’ve gained from 

being a CFR is unparalleled. 

From patient care to forming 

bonds within the community and 

with crews, the list goes on! With 

the career path I want to take, 

it came as a pleasant bonus to 

know I could also take part in 

16 


NEWSLINE 

quarterly observation shifts within 

NEAS which I have learned so 

much from. 

“I already held a lot of passion 

for what I wanted to do in my 

future, however, being a CFR 

has not only confirmed but also 

reinforced my ideas of becoming 

a paramedic. Being a volunteer 

within NEAS is something that I 

carry with great pride. Being able 

to give back to the community 

that you were brought up in is the 

most amazing feeling.” 

Paul ‘Paddy’ Brolly is the 

ambulance service’s community 

resuscitation officer and oversees 

it’s community first responder 

teams. He said: “Historically 

served by local volunteer 

responders, coastal areas have 

recently experienced a gap in 

CFR coverage. We recognised 

the need for volunteers in these 

areas particularly given the 

county’s rural nature and tourism 

levels, which are high especially 

in the summer. 

“CFRs are trained volunteers who 

are dispatched to nearby 999 

incidents, providing immediate 

care such as CPR, defibrillation, 

and reassurance to patients and 

families before paramedics arrive. 

Their presence is particularly 

vital in hard-to-reach rural 

communities, where ambulance 

response times may be longer 

due to distance. 

“Our service has worked 

proactively to reintroduce CFR 

volunteers, and the return of 

responders to Bamburgh and 

Seahouses in the shape of 

Andrew and Jade marks an 

important step in strengthening 

emergency response capabilities 

across Northumberland.” 

New service 

improvement project 

will help identify 

patients with an 

underlying heart 

condition 

Clinicians at the North East 

Ambulance Service (NEAS) 

are taking part in a service 

improvement project which is 

looking to improve how they 

communicate with GPs when 

they detect a patient has an 

underlying heart condition. 

Ambulance clinicians can come 

across patients with conditions 

they are unaware of and are often 

different to the reason they called 

the ambulance. One of these 

conditions is an abnormal heart 

rhythm called atrial fibrillation (AF). 

Having AF increases a person’s 

long-term risk of having a stroke, 

but the risk can be reduced with 

medication. By communicating 

this to a patient’s GP, it can be 

followed up and appropriate 

medication can be started 

if needed. 

The project, which is funded 

by the British Heart Foundation 

and in partnership with Hull York 

Medical School, will monitor 

patients over a 12 month period. 

Starting on 10 July, ambulance 

clinicians will complete their 

medical documentation as 

normal, but information will then 

automatically be sent to the 

patient’s GP to say AF has been 

detected in a patient. Although 

this information is routinely 

shared, the new process will 

highlight the condition to allow 

a GP to follow-up with a patient 

more effectively. 



17

NEWSLINE 

Research paramedic, Laura 

Blair said: “We hope that this 

process will improve detection of 

risk factors for stroke, ultimately 

reducing the number of people 

having strokes. 

“Over 139,700 of our patients 

are treated at home every year, 

without needing to be taken 

to hospital. By highlighting this 

condition with a GP earlier, it 

could result in a patient needing 

less medical treatment in future. 

“Previous work written by some 

of the project team and published 

in the British Paramedic Journal 

showed that as many as two 

people per day in the NEAS 

catchment appear to have 

AF detected by ambulance 

clinicians.” 

The researchers will compare 

information about patients before 

and after this new process starts, 

to see how this new process is 

affecting a patient. As well as 

looking at data from patients who 

did not have a GP letter sent, they 

will compare information from the 

previous year. 

The patients whose information 

is shared in this new way will be 

aware of this process. Relevant 

research approvals will be applied 

for, to access other comparator 

patient information. 

the British Heart Foundation, 

said: “Atrial fibrillation is an 

important risk factor for stroke 

but, if spotted early, we have 

effective treatments that can 

reduce that risk. This interesting 

project could produce real 

improvements for patients, 

improving communication 

between the ambulance service 

and doctors to keep more people 

out of hospital. 

“At the British Heart Foundation 

we are excited to be supporting 

projects like this, which aim to 

harness technology to improve 

healthcare and prevent people 

experiencing heart and circulatory 

conditions in the future.” 

This project will last for 12 months 

and is funded by the British Heart 

Foundation and is in partnership 

with Hull York Medical School. 

Volunteer medical 

students celebrate 

fifth anniversary 

of pre-hospital 

response scheme 

with North East 

Ambulance Service 

student community, as well as 

the wider city too. 

Over the past five years NEAS 

has trained 96 medical students 

and there are currently twelve 

who are active now. CFRs attend 

medical emergencies as well 

as cardiac arrests. Responders 

operate across the whole of 

the North East in both rural and 

urban areas and are a crucial part 

of the chain of survival. 

Across the wider region, NEAS 

supports an additional 112 

community first responders 

who have each undergone 

a training course, as well as 

NEAS induction and statutory & 

mandatory training. The students 

follow the same training and are 

then further trained on life-saving 

equipment, such as defibrillators. 

In 2024/25, NEAS trained 112 

community first responders who 

are based across the region. Over 

the last year they have attended 

1,850 incidents and collectively 

volunteered over 41,000 hours for 

the service in 2024/25 equating to 

1,715 days. 

Paul Brolly, first responder 

coordinator at NEAS, said: “It 

is incredibly rewarding to see 

this scheme, in partnership with 

Newcastle University, mark its 

five-year anniversary. 

students themselves, who 

gain some real-life experience 

responding to incidents across 

the city. 

“We are extremely grateful for the 

support from Newcastle University 

and its medical students, who 

really do help save lives.” 

Anita Low, from the University’s 

community first responder 

scheme said: “It’s a fantastic 

opportunity for students 

like ourselves to help in the 

community and get hands-on 

experience at the same time! 

I’m thrilled the society has 

reached it’s fifth year and hope it 

continues on for many to come.” 

New digital system 

helps paramedic 

save life in Essex 

A quick-thinking paramedic 

and a new digital system have 

been credited with helping to 

save a person’s life in Essex 

Lu Harrington, a Senior Clinical 

Paramedic with East of England 

Ambulance Service NHS Trust, 

responded to a call where vital 

information was needed. By using 

the Mid and South Essex Shared 

Care Record, she was able to 

access essential details that led to 

life-saving treatment for a patient. 


Dr Chris Wilkinson, consultant 

cardiologist at James Cook 

University Hospital and one of the 

chief investigators for this project, 

will be working with NEAS as 

part of this work. He said “Stroke 

can be devastating but is often 

preventable through identifying 

and treating underlying risk 

factors like atrial fibrillation. This 

British Heart Foundation funded 

project will help ensure that atrial 

fibrillation is appropriately treated 

to reduce the risk of stroke.” 

Professor Bryan Williams, chief 

scientific and medical officer at 

The scheme, which launched 

in 2020, encourages medical 

students to volunteer their time 

to provide lifesaving support to 

people in an emergency whilst 

an ambulance is travelling, 

whilst helping their local 

“The community first responder 

role is crucial in providing early 

interventions in the first minutes 

of an emergency. Living within 

the communities they serve, they 

can often be on scene almost 

immediately, providing basic life 

support, observations and initial 

treatment. They also often remain 

on scene, offering a muchappreciated 

extra pair of hands to 

our crews. 

“The scheme benefits everyone, 

the local student community, 

the wider city community, our 

ambulance crews, and the 

The digital system brings 

together key patient information 

from local health and social 

care organisations to help 

professionals make faster, safer 

decisions when caring for people. 

It includes information such 

as personal network contacts, 

medications, allergies, known 

medical conditions, hospital 

discharge information, and 

support from adult social care. 

A concerned person called 999 

after noticing that their neighbour 

hadn’t been seen for several 

days and their curtains remained 

18 


TESTED 

closed. This is a type of call 

that regularly comes through to 

the ambulance service, a lot of 

the time without vital personal 

information that is needed. 

Lu took the call from the 

Unscheduled Care Coordination 

Hub. Using the Shared Care 

Record, Lu was able to locate 

contact details for the patient’s 

next of kin. They contacted a 

local key holder for the patient 

who then took urgent steps that 

led to life-saving support from the 

ambulance service. The system 

gives authorised professionals 

in health and adult social care 

secure access to the most 

important information when it’s 

needed, with strict safeguards to 

ensure only trained staff directly 

involved in a person’s care can 

view it. 

— and in some cases, it can 

save lives. 

“The NHS’s new 10-Year Health 

Plan sets out a clear shift from 

analogue to digital, putting power 

into the hands of patients and 

professionals through better 

access to data. The Shared 

Care Record is part of that 

transformation, helping us move 

from a fragmented system to one 

that works seamlessly around 

the person. 

“Technology like the Shared Care 

Record is helping us break down 

barriers between services and 

work as one team to support 

the patient more efficiently. But 

it is the skill, professionalism, 

and dedication of people like Lu 

that truly bring its benefits to life, 

turning digital tools into real-world 

impact for the people we serve.” 

ADVANCED 

AMBULANCE SEATING 

Lu Harrington said: “Having 

access to the Shared Care 

Record helped us get the right 

help to the patient quickly, and in 

this case, it may well have saved 

their life. 

“It’s been invaluable, not just in 

emergencies like this but in our 

day-to-day work. Helping us find 

accurate information fast, even 

if names or dates of birth are 

recorded differently. 

“We often use it to check 

medications, which helps us 

decide whether someone can be 

safely cared for at home or needs 

hospital treatment. It also shows 

us if important care plans are 

in place and whether someone 

has already gone to A&E, 

helping us avoid unnecessary 

ambulance callouts.” 

Tom Abell, Chief Executive of 

NHS Mid and South Essex, 

said: “This case shows exactly 

why sharing information between 

health and care organisations 

matters. When the right 

information is available at the right 

time, it can change outcomes 

The Shared Care Record is 

already helping thousands 

of frontline staff securely see 

the information they need in 

one place, supporting faster 

decisions and more joined-up 

care. Since its launch in August 

2024, the system has been used 

over 638,000 times by 8,550 

professionals, who have viewed 

more than 977,000 documents. 

It is also estimated to deliver 

£3.7 million in annual efficiencies 

for the local NHS and councils 

by saving time and reducing 

duplication. 

App aims to get faster 

care to patients in 

cardiac arrest 

South Central Ambulance 

Service NHS Foundation Trust 

(SCAS) and the Isle of Wight 

Ambulance Service (IWAS) have 

M1 SEATS APPROVED TO LATEST 

R44.04 CHILD SEAT STANDARDS 

Contact us for further 

information and brochures 



19

NEWSLINE 

partnered with the GoodSAM 

Responder app, to reduce 

the response time to lifethreatening 

cardiac arrest calls. 

After a call is received in the 999 

ambulance control room, verified 

volunteers registered with the app 

are alerted to incidents taking place 

within 500 meters of their location. 

GoodSAM which stands for 

‘Good Smartphone Activated 

Medics’, uses mobile GPS 

technology to notify the nearest 

available responder of an 

incident. These responders can 

then begin cardiopulmonary 

resuscitation (CPR) in the 

precious minutes before an 

ambulance arrives. 

The early delivery of CPR and 

defibrillation is critical in improving 

survival rates from cardiac arrest. 

Every minute without intervention 

reduces the chance of survival by 

up to 10%. 

The first phase of the service 

went live across the Isle of Wight 

and South Central Ambulance 

Service’s operating areas from 

Thursday 19 June 2025, with 

certified healthcare professionals 

and clinically trained individuals 

being able to register. 

The aim is to then open it up to 

trained public volunteers from the 

Autumn. By improving access 

to good quality CPR earlier, we 

will be increasing the chance of 

survival for people suffering from 

an out of hospital cardiac arrest. 

Louise Walker, Head of Education 

and Community Response for 

Isle of Wight NHS Ambulance 

Service, added: “We are 

very excited to be part of this 

life-saving programme. Every 

second counts when a person 

is having a cardiac arrest, so 

the ability to activate volunteer 

trained responders in our local 

community will help save many 

more lives across the Island. We 

are so grateful to all GoodSAM 

responders for helping us to 

build a stronger, more responsive 

community network.” 

This project has been partly 

funded by South Central 

Ambulance Charity who support 

SCAS in enhancing emergency 

care. By combining cutting-edge 

technology, charitable support, 

and frontline expertise, this 

partnership is transforming how 

quickly help arrives when every 

second counts. 

Healthcare professionals 

and certified responders can 

register with GoodSAM at 

www.goodsamapp.org. The 

registration process includes 

verification of credentials and 

training to ensure all responders 

meet the required standards. 

Kent newborn who 

survived cardiac 

arrest reunites with 

ambulance team 

Kent parents, Charlotte and Matt, 

very proudly showed off their 

four-month-old son, George, as 

they thanked their son’s lifesavers 

at an emotional reunion at 

Dartford Ambulance Station. 

The family got to meet some 

of the team who helped when 

George slipped into cardiac arrest 

having been starved of oxygen as 

a result of becoming stuck in the 

birthing canal. 

Charlotte had enjoyed a smooth 

pregnancy and was looking 

forward to welcoming their baby 

boy at their home in Swanley 

when her contractions began on 

25 January. 

With midwives by her side, during 

the birth George experienced 

shoulder dystocia which is a 

delivery complication that occurs 

when the baby’s head has been 

born, but one of the shoulders 

becomes stuck behind the 

mother’s pubic bone, delaying the 

birth of the baby’s body. 

As a result, midwives called 

for emergency assistance and 

Resource Dispatcher Freya 

Eales and Dispatch Team Leader 

Teresa Gibbs assigned a team 

to attend the scene. This saw 

Emergency Care Support Worker, 

Oliver Broom and Paramedic, 

Isabella Black arriving first on 

scene. George was born a 

short time after they arrived but 

after being starved of oxygen 

for seven minutes, he went into 

cardiac arrest. 

being as low as 12 per cent in 

the UK and even lower rates of 

neurologically intact survival, 

the team did an amazing job of 

achieving a return of spontaneous 

circulation (ROSC) on George. 

A 10-day stay in the Neonatal 

Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at 

Medway Maritime saw George 

go on to make a good recovery. 

As a result, over next two years 

George will be monitored with the 

hope that he has no long-lasting 

effects of his cardiac arrest. 

Thanking Freya, Teresa, Stuart, 

Zara, Stephanie Dan, Ollie and 

Isabella who they met, Matt 

said “Thank you really doesn’t 

feel enough. It’s hard to put into 

words how we feel as without 

you, we wouldn’t be here with 

George today.” 

Charlotte said “It was 

overwhelming to be able to 

meet everyone again and talk 

it all through, as it was a total 

whirlwind that afternoon. I can’t 

thank them enough for everything 

they did for our family. They really 

are superheroes.” 

The team enjoyed a cuddle with 

baby George and heard more 

about his recovery since they last 

saw him in January. 

Teresa said “From finding out that 

George had an extremely positive 

outcome, to getting to meet him, 

Charlotte and Matt, it was an 


David Hamer, Operations 

Manager for SCAS, said, 

“The launch of GoodSAM is 

a significant milestone in our 

mission to improve survival 

from cardiac arrest. By 

enabling trained responders to 

reach patients faster, we can 

dramatically increase the chances 

of a positive outcome. This is 

about saving lives, and we are 

proud to be part of this initiative.” 

A newborn baby boy who went 

to cardiac arrest while being 

delivered was introduced 

to the team who saved his 

life recently. 

Student Paramedic, Stuart 

Abbott, Paramedic, Zara 

Toynton, Associate Ambulance 

Practitioner, Stephanie Wheeler 

and Operational Team Leader, 

Dan Beaumont followed with 

the Air Ambulance Charity 

dispatching their rapid response 

car to the home. 

With out of hospital survival rates 

for newborns after cardiac arrest 

absolute pleasure and I’m very 

proud to have played a part in 

his survival.” 

Stephanie said “I was over the 

moon to be able to reunite with 

baby George, Charlotte and Matt. 

It made my week, and it was a 

really special reminder of the 

difference that we can make to 

our patients. I wish them nothing 

but the best for their future.” 

20 


NEWSLINE 

Ambulance 

service celebrates 

paramedic graduates 

A group of graduate paramedic 

apprentices were recently 

honoured at a celebratory 

event at Westpoint Exeter after 

successfully completing their 

BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science 

Degree Level Apprenticeship. 

The fully-funded programme is 

delivered in partnership between 

the South Western Ambulance 

Service NHS Foundation Trust 

(SWASFT) and the University 

of Cumbria. It allows frontline 

clinicians to earn a degree while 

continuing to work, making the 

path to becoming a paramedic 

more accessible. 

27 graduates gathered with their 

families, friends, and colleagues 

for the recognition event, which 

was supported by the South 

Western Ambulance Charity. 

The occasion offered a moment 

to reflect on their achievements 

ahead of the formal graduation 

ceremony in Cumbria. 

Neil Lentern, Director of 

Paramedic Practice at SWASFT, 

praised the graduates for their 

commitment and determination: 

“Balancing part-time study 

alongside a demanding frontline 

role is no small achievement. The 

dedication and perseverance 

shown by these graduates 

throughout their journey has been 

truly inspiring. 

“With demand on ambulance 

services continuing to rise, 

developing a strong and 

sustainable pipeline of 

paramedics is essential. This 

apprenticeship programme plays 

a vital role in achieving that. 

“Graduation marks the beginning 

of a lifelong learning journey in 

paramedicine, and these new 

paramedics are exceptionally 

well-placed to thrive in their 

careers. They should be 

incredibly proud of what they’ve 

accomplished.” 

All the graduates began their 

journey as Emergency Care 

Assistants with SWASFT before 

enrolling in the apprenticeship. 

After completing a six-month 

online bridging module, they 

embarked on the two-year 

programme and officially 

graduated between February and 

April of this year. 

Graduate Ollie Rouch, 

from Plymouth, shared his 

experience: “When I first 

joined the ambulance service, I 

hadn’t really considered where 

it might lead. But working as an 

Emergency Care Assistant and 

hearing from colleagues who had 

progressed through this route 

inspired me to give it a go. 

“It hasn’t been easy, but 

combining work and study made 

it much more achievable – the 

structure of the programme 

really supported that. I’m 

incredibly proud of what we’ve 

accomplished as a cohort. We’ve 

shared challenges, celebrated 

milestones, and formed 

friendships that will last a lifetime. 

It’s taken real teamwork to get us 

all through, and now we’re Newly 

Qualified Paramedics – it’s an 

amazing feeling.” 

Fellow graduate, Mark Walker, 

from Torbay, reflected on why 

this route was the right fit for 

him: “As a slightly older person, 



21

NEWSLINE 


going to university fulltime wasn’t 

realistic – the cost, the time, and 

not being able to work just made 

it unfeasible. This apprenticeship 

route gave me the best of both 

worlds; I could continue working 

fulltime, gain valuable on-thejob 

experience, and the cost of 

study was minimal, which was a 

huge bonus. 

“My advice to anyone considering 

it is simple: age is no barrier. If 

you’ve got the drive and passion 

to do it – just go for it.” 

SWASFT offers three different 

paramedic degree apprenticeship 

pathways, providing an 

accessible alternative to 

traditional university routes. 

These pathways are especially 

well-suited for school leavers, 

career changers, and individuals 

transitioning from the armed 

forces who are interested in 

emergency healthcare. 

The apprenticeship initiative forms 

part of SWASFT’s commitment 

to attracting a broader and 

more diverse workforce into the 

ambulance service, helping to 

meet increasing demand and 

better represent the communities 

it serves. 

Alongside frontline roles, the 

Trust also offer apprenticeship 

opportunities within its corporate 

and support services. 

UK Power Networks 

collaborates with 

999 heroes 

Emergency services teams 

from across London, the East 

and South East joined UK 

Power Networks’ first ever 

safety partnership event for 

emergency responders. 

The Emergency Services 

Awareness Day aimed to 

strengthen coordination between 

Britain’s biggest electricity 

network operator and 999 

responders, with a focus on 

network resilience and public 

safety, while supporting the 

crucial role of emergency 

responders. 

The event was held at the 

company’s training centre in 

Sundridge, Kent, where hundreds 

of electricity workers learn 

and refresh technical skills on 

substations, overhead lines and 

underground cables in controlled 

environments. 

UK Power Networks’ teams work 

with emergency responders 

during incidents such as floods, 

storms, fires, road accidents 

and public safety incidents. They 

make sure the electricity network 

is de-energised so emergency 

services work can proceed 

in safety. 

During the event, visitors used the 

latest technology to take a virtual 

tour of a substation in the South 

East and UK Power Networks 

shared plans to pilot QR codes 

enabling first responders to easily 

access site safety documents. 

Responders were reminded to 

treat electrical equipment as 

live and keep well clear until UK 

Power Networks confirms it is 

safe, such as after storms or 

collisions that might damage 

infrastructure. Apprentices 

demonstrated network 

procedures, including deenergising 

overhead power lines, 

connecting underground cables 

and working in substations. 

Leon Ford, head of training 

and assurance at UK Power 

Networks, said: “We were 

delighted to welcome police, 

fire and ambulance crews to 

our first Emergency Services 

Awareness Day to increase 

coordination with these 

important partners. We have 

Memorandums of Understanding 

with many emergency response 

organisations across the 

communities we serve. These 

enable us to collaborate with 

emergency responders to ensure 

safe working areas. Safety is 

our top priority, and we want 

to maintain these relationships, 

share information and continue 

improving safety for both 

emergency responders and 

the public.” 

Jim Smart, crew manager for 

Technical Rescue at Kent Fire 

and Rescue Service, said: “We 

welcome the opportunity to 

collaborate with the electricity 

industry to share information and 

experiences. When we call in UK 

Power Networks, we know we 

will be met with someone who 

will provide the expert advice 

we need for the broad range of 

rescues we attend. UK Power 

Networks makes every effort to 

get the right person with the right 

skills where they’re needed as 

quickly as possible.” 

Rob Cox, general manager 

for 999 operations for London 

Ambulance Service said: “This 

is the first time I have been to 

a partnership event like this. It 

is not often that we get to see 

what ‘Category 2’ non-blue 

light responders can offer us. 

It has been a real eye-opener 

on what joint working and 

operations can achieve in an 

emergency situation.” 

Martin Pemble, search adviser 

at Kent Police, said: “We already 

have a good working relationship 

with UK Power Networks and 

that’s what we want to foster. 

It’s better to exchange details 

off the playing field than on the 

battlefield. We learnt more about 

what UK Power Networks does 

and how we can call on them for 

support. This has been incredibly 

useful and massively beneficial.” 

Emergency responders joined 

from Kent Police, Kent Fire and 

Rescue Service, Met Police, 


NHS Trust, East Sussex Fire and 

Rescue Service, Norfolk Fire and 

Rescue Service, Hertfordshire 

Fire and Rescue Service, West 

Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, 

Buckinghamshire Fire and 

Rescue Service. 

NHS 111 Wales 

website unveils new 

AI-powered virtual 

assistant 

NHS 111 Wales has introduced 

a new virtual assistant to help 

website users get the right 

health advice, fast. 

The AI-powered assistant, which 

is available in multiple languages, 

scans the website for information 

and advice based on prompts 

from the patient. 

The technology has been 

designed to offer a quicker and 

more seamless experience for 

users and is part of a broader 

programme of work to improve 

the NHS 111 Wales website. 

Jonny Sammut, Director of 

Digital Services at the Welsh 

Ambulance Service, which hosts 

the NHS 111 Wales service, said: 

“111 prides itself on providing 

healthcare advice you can trust, 

which is why improving our digital 

offer is a piece of work which 

never stops. 

“We also recognise that there’s a 

vast amount of information on the 

111 website which can be tricky 

to navigate, especially when 

you’re feeling unwell. 

“The virtual assistant helps 

you find answers by scanning 

22 


NEWSLINE 

the website for you, whether 

that’s about a rash, sting, fever, 

toothache – or whatever it is 

that’s making you feel poorly. 

“This solution represents a 

significant step forward in making 

healthcare more inclusive, 

accessible, and responsive.” 

Mohammed said: 

“I’m absolutely delighted to win 

this award. It’s not just for me, 

mentally and physically, while also 

breaking down misconceptions 

about what people with 

disabilities can achieve. 

“This real-time access to health 

advice not only offers a more 

user-friendly experience but 

also enables people to make 

more informed decisions about 

their health. 

“Key to its success is feedback 

from the public, so we’d 

encourage anyone who uses 

the virtual assistant to spare 

us a moment at the end of 

the interaction to tell us what 

they thought.” 

The Trust partnered with 

Robotics AI and DRUID AI to 

build the virtual assistant. 

Raj Sharma, Vice President of 

Sales UKI at DRUID AI, said: 

“At DRUID AI, we are proud 

to collaborate with the Welsh 

Ambulance Service and Robotics 

AI to revolutionise patient 

interactions with the NHS 111 

Wales service. 

“Our AI-driven agent is designed 

to elevate patient experience, 

ensuring that individuals receive 

real-time health information in a 

seamless, intuitive manner. 

“This AI-powered solution 

not only improves the patient 

experience by delivering timely 

and personalised interactions, 

but also enhances operational 

efficiency by alleviating pressure 

on call centres.” 

Russell Lawrie, Chief Executive 

of Robotics AI, added: “We 

are thrilled to partner with 

WAST and DRUID AI to deliver 

a transformative solution that 

not only improves access to 

healthcare information but also 

supports WAST’s mission to 

provide equitable and efficient 

care for the Welsh population. 

West Midlands 


worker wins national 

healthcare award 

A West Midlands Ambulance 

Service worker has won a 

prestigious national award. 

Mohammed Ramzan scooped 

the top prize in the Equity, 

Diversity and Inclusion category 

at the Skills for Health Our Health 

Heroes Awards. 

Head of Diversity and Inclusion 

Mohammed impressed an expert 

panel of judges with his work 

which has led to the reduction 

of the gender pay gap across 

the service. 

In addition to this, Mohammed 

spearheaded the NHS Asian 

Professional National Alliance 

75-years event at the House of 

Commons and led the delivery 

of learning workshops at a 

Community and Faith Centre in 

Birmingham to inspire the next 

generation to pursue a career in 

the sector. 

No stranger to awards, 

Mohammed was part of a team 

that won the National Inclusive 

Uniform Award for his work in 

promoting cultural clothing for 

diverse ambulance staff a few 

years ago. 

Accepting his award at an 

awards ceremony held in London 

its a whole team effort, I share 

with the team. I think it will really 

galvanise all the amazing work 

the staff networks have been 

doing in the past year. It’s great 

to have recognition of all the hard 

work that they do.” 

Supported by NHS England, 

NHS Employers, NHS Shared 

Business Services, NHS Race 

& Health Observatory, SFJ 

Awards and Integrated Care 

Journal, Skills for Health’s Our 

Health Heroes recognises and 

honours the hard work carried out 

daily by thousands of staff across 

the UK. To find out more visit: 

www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/awards 

The emergency 

dispatcher defying 

disability barriers 

From saving lives to breaking 

barriers, Emergency Medical 

Dispatcher, Elle Dempsey is 

proving that you can lead a full 

and active life alongside living 

with disability this Disability 

Pride Month. 

Elle, who lives with Cerebral 

Palsy, works full-time in one of 

WMAS’s busy control rooms as a 

dispatcher, handling urgent 999 

calls and helping people across 

the region get the emergency 

care they need. 

As well as holding down a fast 

paced role in the emergency 

services, Elle takes part in 

a range of adaptive sports 

including wheelchair basketball, 

weightlifting and climbing. She 

credits her active lifestyle with 

helping her stay strong both 

Elle said: “Growing up I often 

felt quite lonely and isolated as I 

couldn’t participate in a lot of the 

sports and activities that other 

children were doing. I stumbled 

across an online community of 

people taking part in wheelchair 

sports and since then I haven’t 

looked back. 

“Having this community, along 

with the ability to stay active 

and enjoy so many sports 

is incredible. I want people, 

especially young people with 

disabilities to know that they are 

not alone and that there is space 

for them in roles like mine and 

in sports.” 

Chair of the Disability, Carers and 

Advocates Network, John Eames 

said: “We’re proud to champion 

inclusion and diversity, and Elle 

is a shining example of how lived 

experience can bring valuable 

perspective to frontline services. 

“Elle is an incredible example 

of resilience and determination, 

both in the control room and in 

the wider community. I hope her 

achievements in her sports can 

inspire others that they are not 

alone and leading a life you love is 

still very much possible.” 

Yorkshire Ambulance 

Service awarded 

funding to improve 

care for patients 

with incidental 

findings 

Yorkshire Ambulance Service 

NHS Trust (YAS) has received 

funding from the National 

Institute for Health and Care 

Research (NIHR) for a new 

research project which aims 

to improve care for patients 



23

NEWSLINE 


with incidental findings that are 

identified during an emergency 

response. 

When ambulance crews respond 

to emergencies, unexpected 

health problems are found in 

one in six patients and are not 

related to the emergency that 

the patient called about. These 

‘incidental findings’ can include 

an irregular heartbeat, diabetes or 

high blood pressure, and patients 

may not know that they have 

these conditions so they remain 

untreated. 

Highlighting unexpected health 

problems early can help people 

get treatment to prevent serious 

illnesses, like strokes and 

heart attacks. 

The PERIFERAL project (Pathway 

enhancement for the referral 

of non-conveyed patients with 

incidental findings encountered 

by ambulance clinicians) intends 

to describe the patients who 

have incidental findings and 

what happens to them, as well 

as report how UK ambulance 

services currently manage 

incidental findings. The research 

will also identify what aspects of 

current processes work for staff 

and patients, and what needs to 

be improved or changed. 

The research project will use 

what has been learned to develop 

and refine a standardised referral 

pathway for incidental findings in 

ambulance services. 

It will take place over 24 months, 

starting in October 2025, and be 

led by Dr Caitlin Wilson, Senior 

Paramedic Research Fellow at 

YAS, with collaborators at the 

University of Sheffield, North 

East Ambulance Service NHS 

Foundation Trust, Northumbria 

University, and the Hull York 

Medical School at the University 

of York. 

A dedicated patient panel has 

also been set up to contribute 

lived experience to the 

project, helping to shape the 

interpretation of data, inform 

recruitment strategies, and 

support the development of clear 

and accessible study materials. 

Dr Caitlin Wilson said: “I’m 

delighted that we have received 

funding from the NIHR for the 

PERIFERAL project. Ambulance 

services and ambulance 

clinicians across the UK vary 

in how they manage incidental 

findings. Some take patients to 

the emergency department, and 

others recommend that patients 

see their GP - but we do not 

know if patients follow this advice. 

“I look forward to working with 

our collaborators to explore the 

current processes, and how we 

can improve care for patients 

with incidental findings. This will 

help to reduce missed diagnoses, 

prevent long-term health 

complications and align with 

public health priorities.” 

For more information about the 

Trust’s research projects, visit the 

Research Support page. 

Staff celebrate over 

5,560 combined 

years at ambulance 

long service awards 

Yorkshire Ambulance Service 

NHS Trust was proud to 

celebrate the achievements 

and dedication of its staff at 

the recent annual Long Service 

Awards ceremony. 

During the event, the region’s 

ambulance service recognised 

128 colleagues with a combined 

service of over 5,560 years. 

Awards included those for staff 

who have reached their 20, 

30, and 40-year milestone in 

the NHS. Also presented were 

the King’s and Queen’s Long 

Service and Good Conduct 

Medals, given to colleagues with 

20 years’ exemplary frontline 

emergency service. 

More than 230 staff and their 

guests attended the event, held 

at the Pavilions of Harrogate, 

during which the awards were 

presented by Trust Chair 

Martin Havenhand and Mrs 

Clare Granger, His Majesty’s 

Deputy Lord Lieutenant of 

North Yorkshire. 

Peter Reading, Chief Executive, 

said: “The event provides us 

with a wonderful opportunity 

to reflect on the amazing hard 

work, dedication and service 

our colleagues have given to our 

patients and the communities we 

serve over so many years.” 

Among the awardees were 14 

colleagues who have reached 

an incredible 40 years’ service, 

and one retired member of staff 

who has completed an amazing 

50 years’ service and will be 

receiving his award locally in 

South Yorkshire. 

Ian Horner started his career 

with the Rotherham County 

Borough Fire and Ambulance 

Service in March 1973 and 

quickly progressed to qualified 

ambulanceman. He was 

promoted a number of times, 

including roles as station officer, 

divisional commander and 

general manager, all in South 

Yorkshire. In 2007, Ian fancied 

a change and took on the role 

of Local Security Management 

Specialist. He ‘retired’ in 2011 

but, as Ian isn’t one to sit back 

and relax, he continued his 

security management role 

on a part-time basis and also 

supported the Events team as 

a match commander covering 

Barnsley FC and Rotherham 

United matches until he fully 

retired in 2023. 

North Yorkshire-based husband 

and wife Lee and Emma Davison, 

who have both served for 30 

years, received their awards on 

the event day. They first met 

back in 1999 on their paramedic 

training course and got together 

ten years later. Emma worked 

as a paramedic and latterly as 

a team leader in Northallerton; 

she is now a Named Professional 

for Safeguarding at the Trust. 

Lee completed ten years as 

a paramedic seconded to the 

Yorkshire Air Ambulance; he now 

works part-time as a road-based 

paramedic and spends the other 

half of his working week in the air 

as a pilot. 

A selection of vehicles from the 

YAS fleet were on display for 

guests to look around and Matt 

Wakefield, Chief Executive of the 

National Emergency Services 

Museum in Sheffield, brought a 

vintage ambulance and a pop-up 

ambulance memorabilia museum 

along to the event. 

24 


NEWSLINE 

Celebrating 10 years of FREC ® 

The best in prehospital care 

Empowering learners to deliver high-quality patient care 

“ “ 

The trauma care skills gained 

from the FREC® course were 

essential to the success of both 

the Fire Service in our day-today 

role and in our role as an 

International Search Team. 

” 

Shyam Rana, Watch 

Commander, West Midlands 

Fire Service 

I chose the FREC 3 course so 

that I could do events work. 

I am a qualified Nurse but 

taking the FREC 3 has given 

me valuable prehospital skills 

that mean I can deliver safe 

and effective care in a different 

setting. I particularly enjoyed 

the Trauma days. 

” 

Maxine, FREC 3 learner 

Our progressive suite of First Response 

Emergency Care qualifications are 

delivered to the emergency services, 

security sector, event medical sector, 

NHS and Independent Ambulance 

Services, military and more 

• Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First 

Response Emergency Care (RQF) 

Regularly 

reviewed to 

reflect 

contemporary 

prehospital care 

practice 

• Qualsafe Level 4 Certificate in First 

Response Emergency Care (RQF) 

• Qualsafe Level 5 Diploma in First 

Response Emergency and Urgent 

Care (RQF) 

www.qualsafe.org 



25

IN PERSON 

As an Ambassador, Karun will support 

campaigns and initiatives that champion the 

essential work of air ambulance charities, 

particularly in areas where speed, precision, 

and specialist care are vital. His involvement 

will help drive national awareness and 

reinforce the importance of pre-hospital 

emergency care. 

headquarters of Guernsey’s ambulance 

service in St Peter Port. 

The plaque was unveiled by the Bailiff of 

Guernsey, Sir Richard McMahon, while the 

Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, Lt Gen 

Sir Richard Cripwell renamed the building 

‘Blanchford House’. 

Lindsay Boswell, CEO of Air Ambulances 

UK, said: 

“We are so pleased to welcome Karun 

Chandhok as an Ambassador for Air 

Ambulances UK. His passion for motorsport 

safety and his respected voice in the industry 

make him a fantastic advocate for our cause. 

We are excited to work with Karun to further 

amplify the life-saving impact of air ambulance 

charities across the UK.” 

The ceremony, which was held on 

St John Day 24th June, took place in 

front of members of Reg’s family and 

former employees who worked under 

Mr Blanchford. 

The Blue Plaque has been awarded by the 

Blue Plaque Panel, following a nomination 

from local historian Sylvia Brouard and 

Reg Blanchford’s son Gary. 

Air Ambulances UK 

Welcomes Motorsport Icon 

Karun Chandhock As An 

Ambassador 

Air Ambulances UK looks forward to the 

positive impact Karun Chandhok’s support 

will bring in highlighting and strengthening 

the work of air ambulance charities across 


Reg Blanchford started campaigning 

for a dedicated ambulance service in 

Guernsey the mid 1930s following a serious 

motor cycle crash in which he sustained 

Air Ambulances UK is delighted to 

announce the appointment of Karun 

Chandhok, renowned motorsport 

broadcaster and former Formula One 

driver, as an Ambassador! 

Blue Plaque unveiled and 

ambulance station renamed 

in honour the pioneering 

work of Reg Blanchford 

potentially life threatening injuries and saw 

him rushed to hospital by a passing car. 

In 1936 Reg was given permission to 

establish the St John Transport Division, 

which later became St John Ambulance 

Karun’s impressive career on and off the 

track makes him a compelling advocate for 

raising awareness and supporting the vital 

work of air ambulance charities across the 

United Kingdom. 

and Rescue Service. It was set up on his 

father’s builders yard on the Rohais. Reg 

led the service through the Occupation 

and after the war developed the road 

ambulance service, the cliff rescue service 

and in 1952 launched the world’s first 

Karun Chandhok is one of only two Indian 

drivers to have competed in Formula One 

and has raced in a range of high-profile 

championships, including Formula E and 

Le Mans. Now a respected commentator 

and analyst for Sky Sports F1, Karun brings 

with him a wealth of knowledge, a highprofile 

platform, and a passion for safety and 

innovation in motorsport. 

marine ambulance Flying Christine. Reg 

also introduced the first ambulance radio 

telecommunications system in the UK, as 

well as the Inshore Rescue Boat service, 

the Decompression Chamber and a 

pioneering radar system. Today Ambulance 

and Rescue continues the legacy of Reg 

Blanchford adapting to the changing 

healthcare needs of the Bailiwick islands. 


Speaking about his new role, 

Karun Chandhok said: 

“I’m proud to be joining Air Ambulances UK as 

an Ambassador. Having seen the critical role 

that air ambulances play in motorsport and 

on our roads, I know how vital these services 

are. I look forward to supporting the incredible 

work carried out by air ambulance charities 

and helping to raise awareness of their lifesaving 

missions across the UK.” 

A Blue Plaque commemorating the 

pioneering work of St John Ambulance 

and Rescue Service founder Reg 

Blanchford has been unveiled at the 

The Guernsey Blue Plaque scheme, is 

championed by Guernsey Museums 

and recognises past Guernsey people 

who have made important contributions 

to the Bailiwick and the wider world. It 

is also intended to enhance awareness 

amongst the island population and visitors 

about these people and where they lived 

or worked. 

26 


IN PERSON 

Chief Executive’s 

homecoming as he returns 

to London Ambulance 

Service to take the helm 

the 2012 Olympics and responding to the 

devastating 7/7 London bombing. 

LAS Trust Chair Andy Trotter OBE QPM said: 

“I am delighted that Jason has hit the ground 

running as Chief Executive and wasted no 

time getting to know our clinicians from 

across London Ambulance Service and 

understanding what we need to do to make 

sure that the Service remains fit for the future. 

alike they were. 

And just like him, Samantha left her friends 

and family behind in Ireland to follow her 

dreams in London. 

She said: “I couldn’t do anything else: there’s 

no other job for me. To be able to help 

patients the way we do, you don’t get that 

anywhere else. 

“His wealth of experience will help LAS during 

a time of great reform for the NHS, and will 

“And my nana used to say to me ‘you’re just 

like your granddad – this is who you are’.” 

ensure that our paramedics, call handlers and 

other clinicians are well positioned to play a 

vital role in delivering the Government’s big 

changes for the health service. 

When Samantha left her home in County 

Meath in 2019, she stopped in to visit her 

grandmother to say her goodbyes while on 

the way to catch the ferry. 

“His passion for providing high-quality, safe 

care and leading a workforce of highly skilled 

people will be a huge benefit to the people 

of London.” 

Her grandmother pushed her grandfather’s 

London Ambulance Service ID card into 

Samantha’s hands and asked her to promise 

to come home with her own ID. 

New London Ambulance Service Chief 

Executive Jason Killens KAM has started 

his tenure leading the UK’s busiest 

Jason, who has a distinguished career in the 

ambulance sector spanning 30 years, was 

appointed the Chief Executive of the South 

Australia Ambulance Service in 2015 before 

joining the Welsh Ambulance Service as Chief 

Executive in 2018. 

Samantha joined the Service as Emergency 

Ambulance Crew. Just weeks after she 

started on the road, the country was in 

lockdown and she was at the frontline of the 

response to COVID. 

ambulance service, marking a return to 

London where he began his career as an 

Emergency Medical Technician. 

Jason said: “It’s great to be back here at 

London Ambulance Service after ten years 

away. My career started here when I was 

21, back in 1996 as an Emergency Medical 

Technician in north east London. 

“Since then I’ve been away in Australia and 

Jason is also the current Chair of the 

Association of Ambulance Chief Executives 

(AACE). 

Irish paramedic follows 

in her grandfather’s 

footsteps by joining London 


She has since qualified as a paramedic 

after completing an apprenticeship and 

has now celebrated five years with London 

Ambulance Service. 

The Service is very different to the one her 

grandfather joined back in the 1960s. Back 

then, John would have been an ambulance 

attendant and his role was to collect patients 

and get them straight to hospital. 

most recently in Wales. It’s like coming home 

for me. 

Equipment was limited to a stretcher, splints, 

breathing apparatus and bandages. 

“I’ll be focused on driving forward 

improvements that ensure our Service is the 

best it can be for the nine million people living 

in London and against the backdrop of an 

Now paramedics are highly qualified and 

highly skilled and can assess and treat 

patients at home when appropriate. 

ageing population with more complex needs 

and growing demand on the NHS.” 

Over several years Jason worked operationally 

in North East, Central and South East London 

before taking on a number of leadership roles, 

including Executive Director of Operations. 

His time in leadership during his first tenure 

at London Ambulance included overseeing 

A paramedic has followed in her 

grandfather’s footsteps by travelling 

from Ireland to work for London 

Ambulance Service. 

Although Samantha Sanson was just 

11-years-old when her granddad – John 

Monaghan – died, she grew up hearing how 

Samantha was too young when her 

grandfather died to remember his stories from 

his days on the ambulances but she knows he 

was based at Ruislip Ambulance Station and 

had great affection for his patients and the 

local community. 

She treasures the ID card her grandmother 

passed on to her but Sam wishes she knew 

more about his life in London. 



27

IN PERSON 


She said: “I do know that John certainly 

had the Irish gift of the gab. He met 

my nan during his time with London 

Ambulance – and somehow managed to 

talk her into marrying him! 

“She always says it was just to shut him 

up, but even that didn’t keep him quiet. 

He could chat for hours, and it seems that 

gift was passed down to me. 

“It’s amazing how many patients relate 

to me the moment they hear my accent. 

They’ll start sharing stories about their 

Irish relatives or holidays, and for a little 

while, they forget they’re sick or in pain. 

“I’m sure John had the same effect – a 

familiar voice, a kind word – and suddenly 

people felt just a little bit better. I feel so 

grateful to have inherited that ability. 

“Being able to bring someone comfort in 

their worst moments is something I never 

take for granted.” 

Earlier this month London Ambulance 

Service celebrated 60 years of 

saving lives. 

Ambulance services had existed before 

but in 1965, nine services amalgamated 

to form London Ambulance Service. 

To coincide with the anniversary, the 

London Ambulance Charity has launched 

a fundraising appeal to get the only 

wartime ambulance known to have 

survived the Blitz back on the road again. 

Support for the appeal to repair the 

iconic Talbot ambulance will mean it can 

go on tour, bringing the rich history of 

ambulance services in London to life for 

even more people. 

You can find out more about the appeal 

and donate at: Honouring History – 


paramedic honoured 

with King’s medal for 

distinguished service 

A dedicated paramedic has received 

a prestigious honour from His Royal 

Highness, The King at Windsor Castle. 

Darren Farmer, Director of Ambulance 

Operations at London Ambulance Service, 

was awarded the King’s Ambulance Medal 

(KAM) for the care and commitment he has 

demonstrated in his 33 years of service. 

Darren said: “It was absolutely magical to 

receive the medal from the King – I can’t really 

believe this has happened to me. I was able to 

take my family and the day was something we 

will never forget. 

“I have never felt more proud to be a 

paramedic and to represent London 

Ambulance Service.” 

Darren was first inspired to become a 

paramedic when he was away at university 

and heard that his father had collapsed in 

cardiac arrest. 

Darren said: “I was the first person in my 

family to go to university and I was studying 

electronic engineering. I thought I knew what 

I was doing with my life – I was going to be an 

engineer. 

“But then I got the call about my dad. 

Paramedics saved his life – and it changed 

my life.” 

Darren joined London Ambulance Service and 

it wasn’t long before he was called to help a 

patient in cardiac arrest. 

sadly we couldn’t save our patient but I knew 

that I had done my best and we had done 

everything we could to help him. 

“And that is still what inspires me – doing 

everything we can to help our patients. I feel 

proud every time I put my uniform on.” 

Since Darren joined London Ambulance 

Service in 1992, he has been a key figure 

in emergency medicine – from incident 

commander at terror attacks to shaping the 

response to the COVID pandemic. 

He has risen through the ranks to become 

Director of Ambulance Operations – a role 

that is responsible for more than 5,000 

frontline colleagues and helps ensure the 

smooth-running of the ambulance service 

across the capital. . 

He has innovated improvements in teamworking 

which has led to more manageable 

workloads and staff satisfaction rising from 30 

per cent to 80 per cent. 

London Ambulance Service Chief Executive 

Jason Killens said: “This is a well-deserved 

honour which recognises Darren’s dedicated 

service to Londoners and to our own people. 

“Darren is highly respected by his colleagues 

for his compassionate leadership and 

improving standards. 

“I have known him for 20 years and 

without doubt he has helped drive forward 

improvements in patient care and made 

London Ambulance Service a better place 

to work.” 

Appointment of two new 

Independent Non-Executive 

Directors 

London Ambulance Historical Collection 

He said: “Of course it was emotional and 

28 


IN PERSON 

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS 

Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased 

to announce the appointment of two new 

Independent Non-Executive Directors. 

Suzanne O’Brien and Peter Schild began their 

three-year terms on 9 June 2025. 

Suzanne is an experienced non-executive 

director with extensive senior leadership 

experience. She is a qualified accountant 

and tax consultant with more than 30 

years’ experience in business, primarily 

financial services. 

Peter’s most recent full-time role was as 

Chief Financial Officer at the Institute for 

Apprenticeships and Technical Education, 

an arm’s length body of the Department for 

Education, a position he held for four years. 

As a non-executive director at Dartford and 

Gravesham NHS Trust, Suzanne chairs the 

finance and performance committee and is 

chair of the Fifth Trust, a Kent-based charity 

supporting adults with learning disabilities. 

Suzanne is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher 

Education Academy and lectures part-time at 

Canterbury Christ Church University. In her 

new SECAmb role she will chair the Finance 

and Investment Committee. 

Peter has enjoyed a long financial and audit 

career that began at J Sainsbury plc, where 

he qualified as a Chartered Management 

Accountant. He moved to BT plc where he 

held various senior financial management 

roles, before joining the Department for Work 

and Pensions as Deputy Finance Director 

responsible for finance, audit and security. 

He was promoted to Finance Director in 

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), where 

he held numerous financial directorships 

including audit, assurance and security. 

Since October 2023, Peter has been a nonexecutive 

director and deputy chair for the 

Health Services Safety Investigations Body 

(HSSIB). At SECAmb, Peter will chair the 

Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee. 

SECAmb Chair, Michael Whitehouse said: “I’d 

like to warmly welcome Suzanne and Peter to 

SECAmb and look forward to working closely 

with them both. 

“They each bring significant experience to 

their roles and I know the knowledge and 

skills they have developed throughout their 

careers will bring real value to SECAmb.” 

Suzanne said: “I’m honoured to be joining 

SECAmb, which plays a vital role in delivering 

urgent and emergency care across an 

extensive geographic region. I’m also excited 

to support the Trust’s commitment to valuing 

our teams, and to saving lives. I look forward 

to working with colleagues to ensure our 

financial decisions continue to enable highquality 

care for the communities we serve.” 

Peter said: “I am looking forward to joining 

SECAmb and to chairing the Audit, Risk and 

Assurance Committee. I look forward to being 

able to contribute to the future of SECAmb, as 

it continues to transform services, strengthen 

public confidence, and improve outcomes for 

the diverse communities it services.” 

Publishers Statement 

Dear reader, since 1986 thanks to trade support, we have been able to provide you with bi-monthly copies of Ambulance UK FREE OF 

CHARGE, however due ever increasing print and postal costs coupled with reduced levels of support, we have been forced to reduce 

our frequency to quarterly with effect from March 2026. Why are some suppliers not supporting us? One obvious reason is budget 

restrictions, the other is uncertainty as to whether Ambulance UK is being seen and read by decision makers and those who can 

influence purchasing decisions, therefore to dispel this concern, if you are involved in Management, Procurement, Staff Training, are a 

Paramedic, a CFR, a BASICS member or are involved with HART, Ambulance Service Communications, Operations, or Fleet 

Management we really would really appreciate you spending 2 minutes of your time to simply email your name and job title to 

info@mediapublishingcompany.com. If you do not want to submit your name a simple “I enjoy reading Ambulance UK” message and your job 

title will suffice. 

This information will hopefully confirm to the Trade that Ambulance UK is being received and read by key personnel and therefore 

warrants their advertising support, which in turn will enable us to continue providing you with a dedicated publication FREE OF CHARGE 

In addition, should you enquire about a product advertised, please mention Ambulance UK as this will also confirm that we are reaching 

the right people. 

Thank you in anticipation and I would like to thank to following companies for their advertising support as without their contribution towards 

our print and postal costs this issue would not have been published. 

Alpha Labs, Axnar, Bluelight UK, DS Medical, EVS Europe, Intersurgical, MEDACX, Med Learn Training, Ortus, Outreach, 

Proact, Qualsafe 

Terry Gardner 

Publisher 



29

COMPANY NEWS 

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30 


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Ambulance UK August 2025

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