Archives (2024)

27 December 2024

Niece of Kent community worker sets up CPR training for colleagues after helping to save the life of her uncle

A community worker from Medway gave thanks to his niece’s quick-thinking CPR as he was reunited with the team of SECAmb colleagues who helped to save his life. Peter O’Donnell, 67, was joined by his sister Annie and niece Shannon for a heart-warming reunion with colleagues at Medway Make Ready Centre (MRC), where they reflected on that night in August 2024, that ultimately changed their lives. Wha

24 December 2024

Sussex woman reunites with her lifesaving heroes after 4 years

While unlucky for some, Friday 13 December proved to a very lucky day for a retired Steyning woman who was reunited with her lifesavers four years to the day after she suffered a massive cardiac arrest. Delivering a total of 10 shocks to her heart, the SECAmb team were delighted to meet 73-year-old Sue Yarnall at Banstead Make Ready Centre last week. The emotional reunion brought together Advanced

20 December 2024

Parkrunner reunites with lifesaving team and urges everyone to learn CPR

A Chichester man who collapsed in cardiac arrest after completing Bognor Regis parkrun, is urging others to take the time to learn how to save a life after being reunited with the ambulance crew who came to his aid. Former police officer, and experienced runner for Chichester Runners, David Knowles, 57, collapsed moments after crossing the finish line on 2 November this year. Fellow runners and pa

18 December 2024

What’s left on you Christmas to-do list? Look out for SECAmb’s 12 Days of Christmas Gifts

With a week to go until the big day, South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb), is reminding members of the public to tick off a number of tasks to help keep them safer and healthier this Christmas and New Year. People are urged to order any required repeat prescriptions and check that home medicine cabinets don’t contain out-of-date medication. The service is also asking people to check on vuln

18 December 2024

Changes to our Executive Team

We are pleased to share that we have recently made two, new permanent appointments to our Executive Team following competitive external recruitment processes. Sarah Wainwright has been confirmed as Chief People Officer and Simon Bell as Chief Finance Officer. Sarah joined SECAmb in April 2024 as Interim Director of HR & OD and prior to this, was Regional Deputy Director of Workforce at NHS Eng

12 December 2024

Grateful parents reunited with Kent team who helped deliver baby Kai

Just two months after safely delivering their baby in the back of an ambulance, new parents, Alex and Hope were reunited with the team at Dartford ambulance station where they thanked them for the safe delivery of newborn, Kai. The unforgettable moment unfolded in the early hours of 6 September when Hope, 38 weeks pregnant, began experiencing intense pain. Already parents to 18-month-old Isaac, th

11 December 2024

Clinical hubs to support patient care this Christmas

Ambulance, hospital and community trust teams across the south east will be working in closer partnership than ever before to support patients this Christmas and winter period. South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) has now established seven multi-discipline clinical hubs designed to ensure patients are receiving the right response, first time and to help reduce the number of patients attendi

6 December 2024

Collaboration with South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

With the operational and financial challenges facing the NHS, the Boards of South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) recently agreed to work collaboratively across a number of areas. This new approach will see the two services work together towards the creation of a group model, where we will work together more formally

5 December 2024

Driver ambulance alerts to improve road safety

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has become the first ambulance service in Europe to fit digital alerting to its emergency vehicles, so that road users can be alerted to their presence. SECAmb is testing the system, Safety Cloud by HAAS Alert, which enables real-time alerting between emergency and other vehicles, with the aim of improving road safety. Alerts are del

4 December 2024

Lifesaving team reunited with Bognor cardiac arrest survivor

When 76-year-old Harold Lee experienced sharp chest pain and dizziness at his home in Bognor Regis, his wife immediately called 999, recognising something was seriously wrong. Paramedics Megan Bishop and Lucy Lillywhite arrived within minutes to find Harold visibly unwell. An electrocardiogram (ECG) confirmed Harold was suffering from an ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), a life-threateni

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