South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS
Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased to be welcoming the first
staff at its new Emergency Operations Centre and HQ in Manor Royal,
Crawley, West Sussex.

Staff from Lewes Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) begin working
from the new control room next week (24 May) with support staff
from the Trust’s offices in Lewes, Coxheath and former HQ in
Banstead, starting to work in the new building now and in stages
over the coming weeks. Control room staff from Banstead EOC are
expected to join their colleagues in September.

The Trust, which is leasing the site from Surrey County Council,
has previously set out its plans to move from operating three EOCs
to two, which will bring it in line with the majority of other
ambulance trusts around the country which have two EOCs. SECAmb is
leasing two floors of the new building.

The Trust has previously operated EOCs at its current HQ site in
Banstead in Surrey, and at regional offices in Lewes, East Sussex
and Coxheath in Kent. The move, which will see the Trust close
offices in Lewes and Banstead, will ensure greater capacity than
the Trust currently has to enable it to meet the ever-growing
demand placed upon it as well as better manage the increasing
complex clinical needs of its patients.

The move to the new base has been intentionally staggered to
allow for EOC staff to be trained on the Trust’s new Computer Aided
Dispatch (CAD) system. The improved system is currently expected to
be in operation across the Trust’s region by September with
Coxheath the first control room to go live on the new CAD in early
July.

SECAmb Chief Executive Daren Mochrie said: “We’re delighted
staff are now working in the new HQ and EOC. The building provides
the Trust with modern, fit-for-purpose premises. With greater
capacity across two EOCs, our staff will be much better placed to
meet current and future demand.

“A huge amount of work has gone into this move and I’d like to
thank everyone for their dedication and hard work in making it
possible. We do understand the impact the move will have on some
staff but it’s essential that we are able to more forward as a
Trust and improve the service we provide in modern facilities with
provide staff with the right working environment for the benefit
for all our staff and in turn our patients.”