Ella Donaldson, Author at NHS South East Coast Ambulance Service

18 June 2026

Deputy Head of Operations takes part in rare Royal Marines Colours presentation at Windsor Castle

A once-in-a-quarter-century Royal Marines ceremony at Windsor Castle saw Deputy Head of Operations, Gareth Williams, take part in a historic day of service and tradition. On 5 June 2026, His Majesty The King presented new Colours to the Royal Marines in a rare ceremonial occasion held only once every 25 years. The event brought together serving personnel, veterans, senior military figures and inv

15 June 2026

England’s highest cardiac arrest survival rate achieved again as SECAmb leads nation with focus on major improvement goal

Delivering the highest cardiac arrest survival rate in England again, SECAmb is setting the national standard in life-saving care while working towards its 2024-2029 Trust Strategy target. That strategy includes a commitment to increase cardiac arrest survival rates by five per cent, a goal that underpins ongoing work across the organisation to improve outcomes for patients experiencing one of th

10 June 2026

Kent first aid instructor reunites with ambulance team post heart attack

A Kent first aid instructor has spoken of the moment he realised he needed saving himself, after a hidden and life-threatening condition triggered a heart attack at home. Michael, aged 41 from Ramsgate in Kent was with his partner and three-year-old twins at home when he began experiencing symptoms on the evening of 23 March 2026. He felt restless, with an aching jaw and teeth but believing it mi

6 June 2026

Archbishop of Canterbury sees first-hand impact of ambulance chaplaincy support

The vital role chaplaincy plays in supporting ambulance service colleagues was placed firmly in the spotlight during a recent visit by the Archbishop of Canterbury to SECAmb’s Medway Make Ready Centre. The Most Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally, who became Archbishop of Canterbury in March 2026 and is the first woman to hold the office, spent time with colleagues from frontline operations, the E

3 June 2026

Partnership working delivers lifesaving training opportunity for local communities

Strong partnership working with Kent Police and the Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit has secured five CPR training manikins to help expand lifesaving training opportunities across the Trust. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Strategic Partnerships Manager, Daryl Devlia and Kent Police’s Chief Inspector, Elizabeth Jones, colleagues from the Trust’s Strategic Partnerships an

1 June 2026

Kent man survives heart attack one day after “all clear” scan and thanks ambulance team

A Kent grandfather has thanked the all female ambulance team who helped save his life after a sudden heart attack at the roadside one day after a heart scan showed no issues. 76-year-old Rodger from Otford in Kent is now one of an estimated 1.4 million heart attack survivors in the UK, with someone admitted to hospital roughly every five minutes. Rodger was driving himself and his wife through We

28 May 2026

Trust thanks colleagues and reminds public to stay safe during extreme heat

The public are urged to use our services wisely as heat continues into the week after a busy weekend that saw a 30 per cent rise in calls over the bank holiday weekend – making it the busiest weekend of the year so far. As soaring temperatures led to a sharp increase in demand across emergency and urgent care services, South East Coast Ambulance Service handled more than 11,000 emergency 999

27 May 2026

Margate cardiac arrest survivor and father reunited with ambulance team

Five shocks and immediate CPR helped save a Margate father’s life when his heart stopped, giving him a second chance at survival. For Lee, this could easily have been a very different story but instead, four months after his heart stopped, he was reunited with the ambulance colleagues who gave him that second chance. Lee was at home with his wife of 29 years, Manu, on the evening of 30 January 20

20 May 2026

Colleagues share reality of living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

For those living with daily pain, fatigue and dislocated joints, the hidden realities of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes can be life-changing. This awareness month, two colleagues are helping raise awareness and shine a light on the challenges faced by those living with the condition. Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of 13 genetic connective tissue disorders primarily characterised by joint hyper

19 May 2026

Crew thanked after Maidstone man suffered life-threatening blood sugar episode

A routine drive home almost turned dangerous for Roy Edwards, aged 78, when his blood sugar dropped to a critically low level, leaving him disoriented in his car. Roy from Maidstone in Kent, who has diabetes, had just finished a four hour shift at Sainsbury’s in Aylesford when he was found in a dead-end road in Larkfield by a security guard. In and out of consciousness, he was unable to respond p

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