South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) and South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) are pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Ashton as Group Chief Executive, providing executive leadership across both organisations. Simon’s appointment was made following a joint recruitment process and confirmation by both Councils of Governors. He will take up
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has thanked Chief Executive Simon Weldon for his leadership as he stepped down from his role on Friday (17 April) During his three-year tenure at the Trust, the organisation has benefitted significantly from his vision which has driven major progress and improvement across SECAmb. Stepping into the role in April 2023, shortly after the Trust
A routine drive to an event turned into a life-saving rescue when two motorists stopped to help a cyclist lying beside his bike, only to discover he was in cardiac arrest. Craig Ormiston, aged 57 suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while cycling towards Brands Hatch on the morning of 21 June 2025 after setting out from the West Malling area on what had started as a beautiful sunny day. Friends, Emma
What began as what felt like mild chest pain quickly turned into a race against time for one Maidstone man who has since been reunited with the emergency team who helped treat him following a heart attack. Brian Gard aged 76 was at home with his wife, Heather, on 10 January 2026 when he began experiencing chest pain he initially thought was angina which is a condition caused by reduced blood flow
When Ellie King’s heart stopped, quick CPR from her husband and rapid response from South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) clinicians gave her a second chance at life. On 12 June 2025, Ellie and her husband, Paul, were at home watching television when Ellie’s breathing suddenly became irregular. Paul called 999 for help immediately. Resource Dispatcher, Elle Playfair, who was a call taker at
Today is World Health Day, which this year is campaigning for science-led solutions for a healthier future. With today’s research paving the way for the scientific treatments of tomorrow, SECAmb has been developing its own research capacity. The Research and Development Department held open applications across the Trust, before awarding £3,000 grants to three teams of colleagues with research prop
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is marking a strong improvement in Category 2 (C2) ambulance response times for 2025/26, achieved despite a significant increase in demand for emergency care. NHS England asked the Trust to deliver an average Category 2 response time of 28 minutes and 19 seconds. Through the sustained effort across the Trust and with support from par
With His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and approximately 2,000 guests in attendance, our teams were on hand to ensure the historic enthronement of Dame Sarah Mullally, the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, ran safely. As part of the operation, our teams were situated at Canterbury Cathedral within the command
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) and South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) are pleased to announce the appointment of Colin Dennis as the first Group Chair, providing unified non-executive leadership across both organisations. Colin’s appointment was made by both Councils of Governors on 27 March 2026, following recommendation from the joint ap
This weekend sees Easter celebrations. Considered the cornerstone of the Christian faith, the festival celebrates Jesus rising from the dead, three days after he was executed on the cross. SECAmb chaplain Peter Hills and Sadie Ghinn-Morris, co-Chair of the enABLE Staff Network, talk about what the religious celebration means to them. Methodist minister Peter, currently covering stations in the G