EEAST Highlights of 2025
Date: 12 December 2025As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a year of remarkable achievements, inspiring stories, and continued dedication to patient care across the East of England.
From pioneering technology to heartwarming reunions, here are some of the standout moments that defined our year.
January: Strengthening our frontline
Managing unprecedented demand: EEAST began the year at the highest escalation level after receiving over 39,000 calls between Christmas and New Year, urging the public to use 999 wisely and prioritising life-threatening emergencies.
Welcoming international talent: Twenty experienced nurses from the Philippines joined our frontline teams in Essex and Hertfordshire, enhancing emergency care capacity.
Community partnerships: We expanded the Beds and Herts Emergency Critical Care Scheme with new volunteers and vehicles, improving response times for critical emergencies.
Infrastructure investment: A steel-signing ceremony marked progress on our £12.81m Ipswich hub, set to open later in the year.
February: Celebrating Heart Month
Life-saving reunions: A Cambridge man who suffered a cardiac arrest on New Year’s Eve met the volunteer responder who helped save his life, highlighting the importance of CPR.
Defibrillator milestone: EEAST smashed its target by registering 10,000 defibrillators across the region, ensuring faster access to life-saving equipment.
Investing in careers: EEAST regained its apprenticeship provider status, paving the way for new emergency care assistant apprenticeships starting in April.
March: Acts of Bravery and Excellence
A four-year-old girl in Suffolk received a bravery award for calling 999 when her mum became unresponsive.
Norfolk and Waveney’s Unscheduled Care Hub won a national award for improving urgent and emergency care.
Crews were commended for extraordinary courage during a violent disorder in Southend, saving a teenager’s life.
Paramedic Jaynie Sheen earned national recognition for improving care for frail patients and reducing unnecessary hospital admissions.
April: Driving Digital Innovation
EEAST’s tech trial to boost connectivity at A&Es proved a success, speeding up patient handovers and improving care.
Our Hertfordshire and west Essex care coordination hub was shortlisted for an HSJ Digital Award for reducing hospital admissions.
Partnerships with fire services in Norfolk and Bedfordshire were recognised internationally for improving emergency response.
Over 500 years of combined service were celebrated at our long-service awards.
May-June: Strategy and Sustainability
EEAST launched its 2025–2030 strategy, focusing on patient care, staff wellbeing, partnerships, and productivity.
Our mental health response vehicle in Essex marked two years of transformative service, supporting nearly 2,000 patients in crisis.
Two colleagues received the King’s Ambulance Service Medal in the Birthday Honours for exceptional service and leadership.
We celebrated Volunteers’ Week by recognising Carol Moss, the UK’s oldest volunteer responder at 88 years old.
Summer: Innovation and Community Spirit
EEAST piloted a UK-first scheme offering video CPR guidance during cardiac arrest calls, supported by NHS Charities Together.
International Paramedics Day highlighted the incredible impact of our clinicians, who responded to over 814,000 incidents in the past year.
Welfare Wagons celebrated one year of supporting staff wellbeing during high-pressure periods.
Community kindness shone through when a young boy handed out ice lollies to crews working in scorching heat.
Autumn: Investing in the Future
Our new Ipswich hub officially opened, featuring solar panels that will save £315,000 in energy costs over their lifetime.
Essex Freemasons donated £100,000 to fund three new community responder cars, strengthening rural emergency care.
Volunteer responder schemes expanded in Norfolk, adding more trained volunteers to support critical incidents.
EEAST staged CPR training events across the region for Restart a Heart Day, empowering communities with life-saving skills.
Inspiring Stories
From a paramedic overcoming scoliosis to earn two first-class degrees, to staff championing accessibility and neurodiversity, 2025 was a year of resilience and advocacy for our people.
Looking Ahead
As we move into 2026, we remain committed to innovation, collaboration, and delivering the highest standards of care. Thank you to our incredible staff, volunteers, partners, and communities for making 2025 a year to remember.
