News

We have asked mums and their children working here at EEAST a few questions to find out what it’s really like when a family member is also your colleague.

We have asked mums and their children working here at EEAST a few questions to find out what it’s really like when a family member is also your colleague.

This week is Sign Language Week, an exciting national campaign that is led by the British Deaf Association (BDA). Darren is sharing his experiences of learning BSL, and why it's important to be inclusive.

On Thursday 30^th March we will be hosting an inclusive recruitment event at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford, along with partners from other blue light services and NHS organisations. Everyone is welcome.

On Thursday (March 9) at 9pm, Channel 4 is broadcasting a Dispatches documentary about the NHS, mostly centred around EEAST and Watford General Hospital.

Both UNISON and GMB healthcare unions have suspended industrial action over national issue of pay that had been planned for on Monday 6^th March and Wednesday 8^th March.  

EEAST has been working closely with the healthcare unions over potential industrial action being held over the national issue of pay. The unions have now confirmed dates of planned industrial action.

This National Apprenticeship Week, we’re talking to members of #TeamEEAST who started their career with us as an apprentice and hearing about their journeys.

This National Apprenticeship Week, we’re talking to members of #TeamEEAST who started their career with us as an apprentice and hearing about their journeys.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has made more improvements with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) removing two conditions on its licence.

An Essex mum has met the ambulance service call handler who helped her keep her son alive.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has today [Wednesday 4th January] stood down the Business Continuity Incident that was declared on the 28^th December.   

EEAST has declared a Business Continuity Incident.

The Chair of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust is to step down after leading the Trust for three years.

Cromer Town Mayor Pat West visited his local ambulance station to thank staff for their hard work during a challenging year for the East of England Ambulance Service. 

EEAST has been able to stand down the Business Continuity Incident which we declared on Monday evening after a high volume of calls and delays in handing over patients at hospitals. Thank you to all our staff and volunteers.

With just a few days left to go before Christmas, it’s the perfect time to share a film made by our very own EEAST Apprentice EMT, Ben Brayshaw.

Declaring a Business Continuity Incident means we can ensure our resources are focused on patients with the greatest need.

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) has made significant progress in tackling sexual harassment and is no longer under the legally enforceable action plan which was agreed with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in April 2021.

Crews from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) and Magpas Air Ambulance received a national award for their efforts in bringing a 13-year-old in cardiac arrest back to life.

Robert Halfon welcomed the recent £500,000 investment that created a ‘Make Ready’ facility for faster ambulance turn-arounds.  

Crews from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) and Magpas Air Ambulance have been shortlisted for a national award after bringing a 13-year-old in cardiac arrest back to life.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has drawn up plans to create a state-of-the-art hub on the outskirts of Bury St Edmunds to further improve the response it can provide to patients.

Essex MP and International Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch visited the refurbished Ambulance Operations Centre (AOC) in Chelmsford.

This week, combat medical technicians from 7 Para Royal Horse Artillery, which are part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, joined EEAST to begin a series of rideouts to observe our paramedics working in the community, as part of our ongoing relationship with the HM Armed Forces.

The East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) is piloting a new approach that will see patients getting the help they need more quickly.

Patients arriving at hospital by ambulance are set to be seen more quickly thanks to the introduction of an Ambulance Handover Unit at the Southend Hospital site.

As Bonfire Night is fast approaching, we’re sharing our top safety tips for the night, so you can enjoy yourself and avoid any unnecessary injuries.

It’s International Control Room Week and to kick things off we’re launching a new short film.

With Halloween creeping closer, we’re offering our top safety tips for parents to share with their children.

To mark World Mental Health Day, we’re sharing a podcast recorded by EEAST Paramedic Joe Cartwright and Debi Roberts from the Ollie Foundation.

EEAST has stood down from Major Incident Standby status, following work with NHS colleagues to manage the system pressures on the NHS.

Our service is under extreme pressure and we have increased our escalation state across the Trust.

This #OrganDonationWeek, we wanted to share Apprentice Paramedic, Edward Dodd’s story.

EEAST is taking action to better support and recognise the invaluable commitment of our Community First Responders (CFRs) as well as launching a campaign to recruit more.

Following the sad news of the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II, Tom Abell, Chief Executive has issued the following statement.

A garden which was awarded a silver medal at last year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been gifted to Chelmsford Ambulance Station as a space for staff to enjoy and unwind.

There are times when our patients need additional support, whether it’s tackling loneliness, finding a support group, or requiring non-clinical care.

An emergency responder with the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) was saved by his colleagues after he had a heart attack – while treating a woman in cardiac arrest.

The Trust has detailed plans in place to manage the service during periods of high temperatures.

The results of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection into the East of England Ambulance Service Trust earlier this year have now been published.

East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) has held two special ceremonies to celebrate and thank its dedicated staff who have together clocked up more than 9,700 years of service. 

Doctors, nurses and other health and social care professionals have jumped on board ambulances to bring new eyes to the fight to end delays for patients.

For some of our colleagues EEAST really is a family business. We’ve got husbands and wives both of whom work within the organisation, and we also have parents and children working here.

EEAST has joined forces with Hertfordshire Constabulary to roll out the life-saving GoodSAM scheme so that people who suffer a cardiac arrest get help as soon as possible.

The family of a young man who died suddenly have thanked volunteers with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) for the care they provided by gifting them specialist equipment in memory of their son.

A boy with autism and ADHD who is obsessed with ambulances had his dream become a reality thanks to the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST).

To celebrate this years Volunteers’ Week, three of EEAST’s Community First Responders (CFR’s) talk about what being a CFR means to them. 

The contributions made by selfless volunteers who provide life-saving care at emergencies, transport patients to vital appointments and offer a variety of other essential support are being hailed by East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST).

The East of England Ambulance Service Charity has secured a grant of more than £116,000 for an innovative approach to help patients get the help they need.

May is National Walking Month, and no-one is taking it more seriously than East of England Ambulance Service Community First Responder (CFR), Kevin Power, who is taking on the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge to raise money for the Standon and Puckeridge CFR Group in Hertfordshire.

EEAST has contributed to an educational video to support patients and their families, as well as health professionals, to have conversations about resuscitation.

The East of England Ambulance Service is asking for the public’s help as it prepares for a busy Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

From Monday 11^th April, EEAST will be alerting GoodSAM responders to patients within a 2 mile radius.

The East of England Ambulance Trust (EEAST) is helping the NHS donate a fleet of ambulances to provide urgent care for those injured by Russian attacks in Ukraine.

A recruitment roadshow to attract more community first responders (CFRs) starts in North Norfolk next week.

Four members of a running club in Norfolk have completed the ‘Outrun an Ambulance’ challenge to raise money for the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST).

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) is the first NHS Trust to have signed up to UNISON’S new Anti-Racism Charter which aims to help tackle racism in the public sector.

The latest edition of InTouch EEAST, our stakeholder newsletter, is now available. Read InTouch EEAST Issue 15 - March 2022.

The Mayor of Cambridge visited Cambridge Ambulance Station to find out more about a project that has been helping Community First Responders (CFR) support patients across a broader area of the region by introducing designated vehicles for them based at stations.

Twenty-nine-year-old Ashley McLean has raised £3250 for EEAST after cycling 100 miles in 24 hours, exactly one year after suffering a stroke at home in bed.

Smarter Metering Services Limited and its sister company Gas Emergency UK Limited has donated a fully operational rapid response vehicle to the RAF Henlow military co-responders who support EEAST’s teams.

Ambulance staff who have been attacked while on duty are leading a national campaign to stamp out soaring cases of violence and aggression against emergency workers.

We are now in month two of our Outrun an Ambulance fundraising challenge. So far, 28 fantastic fundraisers have signed up, already raising over £2,200 for EEAST’s charity! An incredible achievement, especially as all funds raised will used to support EEAST’s staff and volunteers.

Three Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) will be trialled by EEAST as part of the NHS’s move towards zero emissions vehicles.

From 2^nd February 2022 the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) will be increasing the number of GoodSAM volunteers notified of patients in Cardiac Arrest.

NHS Charities Together has awarded £508,689 to East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust Charitable Funds.

The East of England Ambulance Charity has launched a great way for people to focus on their health and wellbeing by fundraising to support the ambulance service. 

Paramedic, Paul Chittock, has been awarded a Station Commander’s Commendation, marking 15 years of voluntary support for RAF colleagues based at Marham air force base in Norfolk.

East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has been recognised as an exemplar in providing the best standards of care and support towards the Armed Forces community with the Veterans Aware accreditation.

Paramedic Liam Sagi has been named ‘critical care practitioner of the year’ at a national awards ceremony.

EEAST staff members Ben Hawkins and Chloe Spencer have scooped the NHS Hero Award at the Pride in Peterborough Awards. 

We are pleased to announce that Dr Simon Walsh has joined EEAST as Interim Medical Director. 

EEAST has been awarded some additional funds from the NHS E Volunteer Services Fund to support CFR activity over winter. 

Basildon station has formally opened a new wellbeing garden for staff, featuring a memorial bench dedicated to former colleague Neil Ruch. 

Staff and volunteers with EEAST were honoured last night at the Stars of EEAST Awards for their hard work and commitment.

East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of the three permanent executives to join the leadership team.

An innovative project which has seen EEAST join forces with health and care partners in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to improve the support provided to end of life patients has won a prestigious HSJ award.

People in Norfolk and Waveney experiencing a mental health crisis can now benefit from a dedicated mental health response car.

We are extremely busy and we are asking for your help with the current high levels of demand for our services.

Shortly before 2.30pm today our Computer Aided Dispatch and telephony systems experienced a failure.

Please help support the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust Charity by signing up to Amazon Smile.

The public is being urged to enjoy Bonfire Night safely on Friday 5^th November by the East of England Ambulance Service.

Thanks to a Covid-19 grant received from NHS Charities Together, the EEAST Charity is currently distributing over 120 benches across 80 Trust sites for the benefit of staff and volunteers.

Managing fatigue is important for all workers but it’s especially so in the emergency services.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has been awarded Freedom of Entry to the Borough by Basildon Council in recognition of the heroic efforts serving the community during the coronavirus pandemic.

A month to the day after suffering a cardiac arrest, 25-year-old patient Daira Jakobsone was able to meet her lifesavers at Kempston ambulance station.

Frontline officers and Police Community Support Officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary who are trained in Basic Life Support and the use of Automated External Defibrilators (AED) will now be notified and able to respond to a patient suffering a cardiac arrest in their vicinity.

Tribute from Tom Abell, CEO to Sir Davis Amess

We have two exciting open days coming up this weekend within our Ambulance Operations Centres (AOC) in Norwich and Chelmsford.

A farmer who was inspired to become a community first responder (CFR) after having a cardiac arrest has helped to save the life of a neighbour exactly a year to the day after qualifying.

A young boy who fell out of a tree and was treated and taken to hospital by EEAST’s HART team, took on a fundraising challenge this weekend to say thank you.

A statement from EEAST on fuel supply issues. 

East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) and West Suffolk College are working together to broaden the scope of the Health and Social Care course with the aim of attracting more students.   

As part of our #ItsYourCall social media campaign we have created an activity book for children.

Thanks to monies raised by Captain Sir Tom Moore, EEAST has been able to revitalise a run-down station space and create a blossoming wellbeing garden for staff and volunteers to enjoy.

A grateful patient whose heart stopped twice in the back of an East of England Ambulance Service vehicle has thanked the crews who shocked him back to life and described them as “his heroes”.

Tom Abell has today (2 August) taken up his post as chief executive of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST).

GoodSAM volunteer, and EEAST Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Martin Grove now has his own defibrillator to use when he attends patients in a volunteer capacity, thanks to a local family from Beccles.

East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) is encouraging the public to use NHS 111 online for medical advice, with demand for 999 calls increasing and ambulance staff helping more patients.

During 2021, the Felixstowe Community First Responders (CFRs) have embarked upon a variety of fundraising activities in order to replace ageing lifesaving equipment.

Recently, a team of EEAST colleagues got the chance to thank a 15-year-old lifesaver who stepped in to perform CPR when his dad went into cardiac arrest.

Last week, two patients visited Waveney Ambulance Depot to thank the staff who responded to a serious road traffic collision they were involved in during May 2020.

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) is asking for the public’s help as it prepares for another busy weekend.  

It has been brought to our attention that some members of the public have received cold calls from a mobile number claiming to be an ambulance Trust. Read more...

Our latest Quality Account which includes input from our commissioners and Healthwatch organisations has now been published and contains a wealth of information on the care delivered during 2020/21 against the nationally mandated and our own local priorities.

16 paramedics and EMTs from Mid-Essex, some of whom are British Army reservists and veterans, will tackle the Three Peaks challenge in July to raise money for Combat Stress.

Today marks Armed Forces Day.

Today (23rd June) is Reserves Day and we are celebrating the amazing reservists we have working for EEAST. Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that, should their country require them, they would be ready to serve.

Drowning Prevention Week (DPW) aims to equip everybody across the UK and Ireland with the skills and knowledge, to make the right decisions about water safety.

A volunteer for the East of England Ambulance Service has been recognised for outstanding contribution at an annual forum of leading figures in the ambulance service.

Join us in saying a huge thank you to all our incredible volunteers across EEAST.

Congratulations to Ben Hawkins, an Emergency Dispatcher based in Bedford EOC, who has been awarded, ‘Young Achiever of the Year’ at the Control Room Awards 2021.

Following a competitive recruitment process, the East of England Ambulance Service has appointed Tom Abell as its new permanent chief executive.

A community first responder (CFR) who has helped more than 500 patients while volunteering with the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) has spoken of the enjoyment he takes from his role while encouraging others to consider following his lead.

More than 100 people who have suffered a fall at home have received fast, effective help during the past year thanks to an innovative partnership between the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) has introduced bespoke, handmade cuddle pockets so that stillborn babies can be transported to hospital with compassion and sensitivity.

People who have received an excellent service from call handlers and control room teams at the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) are being encouraged to nominate their “heroes in headsets” for a prized national award.

A Community First Responder (CFR) from Norfolk teamed up with a local care home and raised enough money to provide his local town centre with two defibrillators.

EEAST has invested nearly £50m in 440 new ambulances which have been specially designed to make transfers more comfortable for patients while improving safety for crews and the care which they are able to provide.

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST), in collaboration with NHS Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), has today (15 February) launched a specialist vehicle offering patients urgent care support in their own home.

Staff at the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) are mentoring senior leaders as part of an innovative project designed to provide a vital insight into the challenges they face so that improvements can be made.

A mental health response car that is a joint initiative involving Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and the East of England Ambulance Service is now live across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

A Suffolk mum has pledged to walk 100 miles during January to thank our crews for saving her 35-year-old husband’s life after he suffered a cardiac arrest in his sleep.

Famous faces from across the eastern region have joined forces with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) to show their appreciation to its hard-working staff as part of a special week which is giving people the chance to say thank you.

A specialist paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has spoken of his “immense pride” after being named as a recipient of the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year Honours.

Dorothy Hosein has today (20 January 2021) stepped down as chief executive of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, following a period of ill health.

The New Year marked a significant milestone for patients in the north Bedfordshire area as Riseley Community First Responders (CFRs) attended their 1,000th emergency call on 2nd January 2021.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) is investing more than £25m in state-of-the-art technology which will further improve the safety and quality of care which staff are able to provide to patients.

EEAST crews in Ipswich have been busy knitting for patients!

As the weather gets colder, we tend to see an increased number of call-outs to the elderly. Part of our care is to make sure patients are comfortable and warm.

A group of volunteers who give up their time to support the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust have been named as heroes for attending emergency calls during lockdown and helping vulnerable people.

Dr Tom Davis, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director provides tips for enjoying the fireworks season safely.

A senior call handler with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has received a prestigious national award for remaining “calm and reassuring” while guiding a caller through a difficult birth.

Tanoh Asamoah-Danso, Vice Chair of the EEAST BME Network shares his thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement for Black History Month.

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) is holding an event this Saturday (31^st October) to mark the reforming of a group of community first responders (CFRs) in Wells-next-the-Sea.

Community First Responders (CFRs) in central Cambridgeshire are trialling the use of a new marked car and patients are already seeing the benefits.

A pioneering project that will bring hospital-level stroke care to people’s homes has been launched in Norfolk.

A long-serving clinician with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has spoken of his pride at being awarded the Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (QAM) for the dedication he has shown to patient care during a career spanning nearly 40 years.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) published its latest inspection report into our Trust.

Firefighters who supported the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) during the initial phase of the coronavirus pandemic have been presented with a BBC award.

Staff at the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) have paid tribute to a much-loved former colleague by creating a colourful mural as the centrepiece of a special garden dedicated to his memory.

Committed cadets have raised nearly £6,000 for the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) after running, cycling and hiking the distance from Cambridge to Cape Town during lockdown.

The EAST of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust has responded to increased assaults and abuse against staff with a tough publicity campaign.

Blue light colleagues who joined the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) to drive emergency vehicles during the height of the coronavirus pandemic have returned to the trust to fulfil brand new positions on its bank.

Dorothy Hosein, Chief Executive, has pledged to play a fundamental role in achieving positive and lasting changes to stamp out racism within EEAST.

Today we are joining our blue light colleagues in the police, fire and rescue service and wider NHS to celebrate national Emergency Services Day 2020.

EEAST is celebrating after its first group of apprentices passed their courses to become qualified emergency medical technicians.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has been awarded £5m to drive digital transformation projects to further improve the safety and quality of the care which staff are able to provide to patients.

Bedfordshire firefighters rushed to help a paramedic save a man’s life on Saturday (1 August).

A ‘wellbeing garden’ where ambulance workers can enjoy much-needed downtime between callouts has been unveiled after a community push from the people of Huntingdonshire.

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) has issued a heartfelt message of thanks to blue light colleagues in the fire service for providing more than 41,500 hours of support during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Staff at East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) are taking part in a virtual ‘Blue Light Race’ organised by Fenland police officers to raise money for a specialist academy that teaches children with learning difficulties.

East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) and Her Majesty’s Coastguard are trialling an initiative which aims to improve response times to search and rescue missions on the north east Suffolk coast.

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) is saying a special thank you to the children of its staff for their patience and understanding during the coronavirus pandemic.

Two Norfolk paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) went above and beyond the call of duty by tackling a fire in a top-floor flat before evacuating the building.

Patient Transport ambulance driver Nigel Fitzmaurice has returned home following a five-week battle with the COVID-19 virus.

Two front-line paramedics have won dream weddings totalling more than £120,000 in different competitions.

Bedford firefighters enlisted to help East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) drive ambulances during the Coronavirus pandemic have designed and built a memorial garden at Luton ambulance station to show appreciation to their new workmates.

The Chief Executive of East of England Ambulance Service has thanked staff for embracing new ways of working which have helped deliver faster response times during the first phase of the COVID 19 pandemic.

East of England Ambulance Service are urging the public to show restraint, drink responsibly and remember social distancing on the first weekend that pubs and restaurants reopen as lockdown restrictions are eased.

Dionne Jones, who completed a fundraising challenge for her colleagues while shielding during the Coronavirus lockdown, has raised over ten thousand pounds!

To celebrate Armed Forces Day, senior paramedic Aaron Hill, shares his experience of being an Army Reservist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Duke of Cambridge has visited staff from the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) to thank them for their hard work during the COVID-19 outbreak.

On 5^th May, 61-year-old Joy Green suffered a cardiac arrest. 
What happened next is a perfect example of the importance of learning CPR.

Vital equipment which significantly increases the chances of survival for patients who have had a cardiac arrest outside of hospital has had its life-span extended thanks to a generous legacy left to the region’s ambulance service.