The first of the new consignment of MAN Box Body Dual Crewed Ambulances (DCAs) are due to start arriving at Make Ready Centres across the Trust. In total, 92 new vehicles will be joining the fleet between now and the end of March. They will replace the oldest Mercedes Sprinter DCAs, along with 34 Fiats which end their lease in the summer. At the commissioning centre, the vehicles are fully kitted
An innovative project at SECAmb is in the running for a prestigious HSJ Digital Award. Introducing an automated text messaging system to deliver welfare calls which used to be sent manually has freed up clinical time, helping teams to reach more patients in a timely manner. Although a record-breaking 468 entries were received for this year’s Digital Awards, the SECAmb project stood out as a succes
SECAmb is extending the use of Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) throughout the Trust. Already used by operational crews as part of a violence reduction programme, BWCs will now be mandatory for command roles such as Operational Team Leaders during an incident response. Considered a key step in strengthening emergency response and resilience, the initiative follows recommendations from the Manchester Aren
Kind-hearted colleagues at Chertsey and Walton-on-Thames ambulance stations have donated a big delivery of presents to their local children’s hospice. The festive gift collection was organised by student paramedic Tiffany Milner who, in the absence of Santa’s sleigh, loaded up her family’s X-Trail with more than 80 toys and games, helped by her husband Ben. “All the presents have now been delivere
HART operative Hannah Mitchelmore is breaking boundaries as well as developing new skills to improve patient care and safety. Hannah has just passed the final assessment to qualify as the first female Rope Rescue Operator Instructor in SECAmb. Literal high points of the course included hanging in suspension underneath the Tamar Bridge in Plymouth and working at the top of a 120m high reservoir int
The operating uniform for SECAmb’s Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) is changing colour. New ground kit designed in high visibility yellow and navy blue will provide enhanced protection for specialist operations. While the new PPE means better safety for teams operating in high-risk environments, having to change from the former green uniform does pose some challenges. “HART operatives ha
As we head towards Remembrance Sunday, the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal rightly takes national prominence, supported as always by SECAmb. However, fundraising to show support for the Armed Forces community goes on all year round. Someone who has helped the RBL raise many thousands of pounds is Nicola Sykes, a member of the ambulance service for 26 years and an Operational Team Leader at the
As part of supporting Remembrance events this year, Trust vehicles have again been wrapped with a specially designed livery recognising the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in times of conflict. Following suggestions from our Armed Forces Network, this year’s design – which is funded by Fleet – includes a Spitfire, marking its upcoming 90th anniversary, and VJ Day, which commemorated its 80
A courageous bystander and the rapid response of South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) crews have been praised after a man collapsed at a local railway station. In October two years ago, John arrived at North Camp station to catch a train to Guildford. He remembers feeling some chest pain that morning, but it soon went and he dismissed it as a muscle strain. But as he sat down at the platfor
Community First Responders (CFRs) are saddling up to take SECAmb’s latest innovation off-road to improve patient care. Three e-bikes have been specially kitted-out with life-saving medical supplies, aiming to improve response times and increase accessibility in hard-to-reach locations. It’s an idea that Frank Doel, an ambulance technician and CFR team leader for the Manhood Peninsula area of Susse