New emergency vehicle for RAF Honington volunteer co-responders

The fully equipped emergency vehicle has been kindly donated by Triple9, a specialist company which converts vehicles for blue-light use.

The new rapid response vehicle (RRV) will allow the team to provide a first response to more 999 calls in the area.

Military co-responders are military personnel who volunteer their time outside of their military duties to provide an extra level of support for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST). This means that, when available, they can respond to serious medical emergencies and often be first on scene before ambulance crews arrive.

Military Co- Response teams in the region have amassed thousands of hours of volunteering and responding to 999 calls for the NHS and this new vehicle will allow for additional shifts to be undertaken by the team at RAF Honington.

Tom Barker, Head of Collaborative Response at EEAST, said: “This new rapid response vehicle for the volunteer military co-responders at RAF Honington will make a huge difference to the incredible work they do for the local community.

“It will allow the team to bolster their response to medical emergencies and the support they provide to ambulance crews. EEAST would like to thank Triple9 for donating this vehicle to the volunteer co-responders at RAF Honington.”

Corporal Dave Dobson, Team Leader of RAF Honington’s Co-Response Team, said: “We want to thank Triple9 for providing us with a brand-new rapid response vehicle to add to our existing emergency vehicle. The RRV will operate in the west Suffolk area and will provide a clear benefit to patients by cutting down on travel times responding to life-threatening emergencies.

“I am incredibly proud of the work our co-responders do at RAF Honington, going above and beyond by volunteering their own time to serve the community. I look forward to getting the new RRV out on the road and supporting EEAST in responding quickly to 999 calls.”

Tom Ward, Chief Executive Officer of Triple 9 Group Ltd, said: “We are immensely proud to support the RAF Co Responders by providing them with a vehicle to aid the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Together, we strengthen emergency response capabilities and reaffirm our commitment to saving lives in our communities.”

Military co-responders also volunteer for EEAST at RAF Marham, RAF Wyton and RAF Henlow, and have emergency vehicles which they can use when responding to medical emergencies.