News - NHS South East Coast Ambulance Service

2 November 2026

Pub landlord reunited with man he helped save as Kent awards celebrate 1,030 years of service

A pub landlord who helped save a window cleaner’s life was honoured at SECAmb’s Kent awards, alongside colleagues and volunteers marking 1,030 years of service. René Renault, landlord of the Red Lion in Bridge, near Canterbury, received a Chief Executive’s Commendation after performing CPR on Joe Carver for eight minutes in the pouring rain. Joe suffered a cardiac arrest while working at the pub

30 October 2026

SECAmb team develop in-hospital PPE training for NHS staff handling HCID cases

PPE training courses to cover High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) scenarios have proven so successful, SECAmb instructors developed an in-hospital version to teach at acute hospitals across the South East. NHS England instructed there should be a unified approach regarding PPE for acute hospitals nationwide when dealing with suspected HCID cases, creating a need for more training options. U

30 October 2026

Significant milestone as contracts exchanged on building to become new Make Ready Centre

SECAmb has achieved a significant milestone towards completing the rollout of its network of Make Ready Centres (MRCs), having exchanged contracts on a building in Farnborough. Subject to planning permission, the 40,000 sq ft property at Summit Avenue will be developed to become the Trust’s final centre for Surrey and twelfth overall. The new centre would serve the Guildford Operating Unit, provid

29 October 2026

Kent four-year-old thanked for helping her mum and EMA during 999 call

A four-year-old girl from Kent who helped the emergency call handler while her mum was seriously unwell and sought help from neighbours has been awarded a bravery certificate. In March 2026, mum of three Holly was at home with her partner, four-year-old Delilah and their two-year-old twins when she developed chest pain, struggled to breathe and could no longer feel her hands or feet. Holly’s part

29 October 2026

Member of the public among those recognised for life saving actions at Sussex awards ceremony

A member of the public whose quick thinking helped save a man’s life was among those recognised at the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) Sussex Awards 2026. Brighton and Hove bus driver, Debra Russell, received the Honouring Public Service award at The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne on Thursday, 22 October 2026, recognising her actions after stepping in to help when former Brighton and

29 October 2026

New video call project set to transform cardiac arrest care at SECAmb

South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) is launching a new initiative that utilises video technology to enhance the care provided to patients experiencing a cardiac arrest. The project supports the Trust’s commitment to using innovation and technology to improve patient outcomes and aligns with wider NHS ambitions to embrace digital solutions to deliver faster, safer and more effective c

22 October 2026

SECAmb paramedic team present AI findings

Paramedics at South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) are optimistic about the potential of AI (Artificial Intelligence) to support pre-hospital care but are clear that ultimate responsibility and professional judgement should remain with clinicians. That’s a key finding presented by a team of SECAmb paramedics from Chertsey following a 10-month research project exploring how AI could support

22 October 2026

Kent man whose heart stopped seven times reunites with ambulance team who saved his life

A Kent man who survived a cardiac arrest has met the team who saved his life, as SECAmb celebrates England’s leading cardiac arrest survival rate and works towards an ambitious five per cent improvement. The latest figures for May 2026, published by NHS England, show SECAmb achieved its highest-ever monthly 30-day cardiac arrest survival rate of 17.2 per cent. This surpasses its previous record o

21 October 2026

Over 230 people unite to learn lifesaving CPR and tackle gender gap at SECAmb’s CPRathon

More than 230 people came together on Restart a Heart Day to learn lifesaving CPR, as South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) shone a spotlight on the gender gap in bystander CPR. On Friday, 16 October, SECAmb held its first-ever CPRathon at ASDA Chatham Superstore in Kent, bringing together colleagues, partner agencies and members of the public for 12 continuous hours of chest compressions. T

19 October 2026

Paramedic who brings joy to the toughest shifts honoured at Surrey awards ceremony

A paramedic whose kindness and humour helps colleagues through their toughest shifts has won an award in memory of Alice Clark at SECAmb’s first of three Surrey awards ceremonies. Matty Baker, a newly qualified paramedic based in Brighton, received the Alice Clark Award at Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking on Thursday 15 October, where more than 150 colleagues and their families gathered to celebr

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