The daughter of a Medway man who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at home arranged an emotional surprise reunion between her family and the team who saved his life. David Hanlon, (54) from Rochester, Kent, was overwhelmed to come face to face with the team who bought him back from the brink of death after he went into cardiac arrest on 2 December 2024. David’s wife Karen awoke to what sounded like
South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) leads the way for NHS flu vaccination rates among frontline staff with a 73.7 per cent uptake – one of the highest rates recorded nationally. With a decline in vaccination rates among frontline health care workers seen over the last few years, the Trust recorded a remarkable uptake among frontline and patient facing staff in 2025. Nationally, the co
Members of our new Shadow Board met for the first time this week as the group held a workshop at its first face-to-face meeting. SECAmb’s Shadow Board, which has been set up to inform the Trust Board’s discussions, will see members working closely with senior leaders to offer a fresh perspective on issues that matter to colleagues and patients. The session on Wednesday 4 June marked the beginning
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 begin 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’ ex
With over 450 volunteers across SECAmb, this Volunteers Week we’re shining a light on our incredible volunteer community. From community first responders (CFRs), emergency responders (ERs), chaplains and support volunteers, these incredible individuals are crucial to helping us save lives and better serve our communities. To celebrate the week, we heard from a few of our volunteers to find out mor
A father from Swanley who’s heart is now only working at 15 per cent capacity following a heart attack has thanked the teamwork of the ambulance service as to why he is alive. 54-year-old Steve Lane was reunited with emergency medical advisor, Cameron H-Smith and crewmates Lucy Rust and Sarah Blackwell after he experienced a severe heart attack in March 2025. Steve had been to the local shop nearb
Consultant Paramedic for SECAmb, Jaqui Lindridge: “It is with sadness that we have heard of the passing of renowned cardiologist and highly-respected associate of SECAmb, Professor Douglas Chamberlain. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this difficult time. “SECAmb is very proud and is fortunate to have had an extremely close working relationship with Professor Chamberlain for m
A Hove mother of seven is able to look forward to seeing her eldest son get married this year thanks to the life-saving actions of a team of South East Coast Ambulance (SECAmb) clinicians. Sonja McGovern, now 50-years-old, and her husband, Mick, visited SECAmb’s Brighton Make Ready Centre recently to meet some of the clinicians who helped save her life three years ago when she suffered a cardiac a
A donation of used and surplus supplies including PPE, boots and medical supplies are currently on their way to the Ukraine thanks to our stores and logistics colleagues. In partnership with Kent County Council, who are working with UK based organisations to deliver supplies to the Chernihiv region of the Ukraine, the Trust recently donated over 30 boxes of equipment and uniform no longer fit for
More than 400 colleagues and their families gathered on Sunday (18 May) at Lingfield College in Surrey for the Trust’s first-ever family fun day football tournament. The event brought together 16 teams from across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, creating an electric atmosphere filled with friendly competition and a shared love of football. The turnout was not only impressive in numbers but also in divers