EEAST shortlisted for national HSJ Award for groundbreaking cardiac arrest video support service

EEAST's Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Desk is one of nine finalists in the Digitising Patient Care Award at the HSJ Awards, which take place on 19 November.

The service was launched as a six-month pilot in September 2025 and is now moving towards operating seven days a week. It is staffed by Advanced Paramedics in Critical Care who provide expert support to callers through live video calls.

When a 999 call involves a suspected cardiac arrest, Advanced Paramedics in EEAST's Emergency Operations Centre can identify cases where video support may help before an ambulance arrives.

Using the GoodSAM Instant on Scene platform, clinicians send a link to the caller's phone. Once connected, paramedics can see the scene and give live guidance. This supports bystanders to perform CPR and use defibrillators with real-time guidance from advanced clinicians until ambulance crews arrive.

Formal evaluation of the service is still underway, but early results suggest it is having a positive impact on patient outcomes.

The project was funded through the East of England Ambulance Service Charity, thanks to a £142,000 grant from NHS Charities Together, in partnership with Omaze. It has also received expertise and support from Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.

The Cardiac Arrest Desk also includes an aftercare team, which offers support and follow-up to survivors and bystanders involved in these incidents.

Luke Roberts-Andreou, Regional Clinical Lead for Cardiac Care at EEAST and co-project lead of the Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Desk, said:

"We are delighted that our Cardiac Arrest Desk has been shortlisted for an HSJ Award.

"This service is already showing how technology can help us support patients and bystanders during some of the most critical moments in emergency care. We look forward to sharing the full results of the project in the near future.

"Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest remains one of the biggest challenges we face. Video calls allow our clinicians to give more effective support in those first few minutes, helping people deliver better CPR, use defibrillators with confidence and give patients the best possible chance of survival."

Dr Simon Walsh, Medical Director at EEAST, said:

“As someone who works for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance as well as EEAST, I am extremely proud of the collaborative work that has resulted in the initial success of this new service, the first in the UK.

“A cardiac arrest is one of the most stressful and frightening situations that family members and bystanders might ever face and this service is making a real difference to that experience whilst improving the effectiveness of the most time-critical interventions.”

Kate Lott, Head of Charity for the East of England Ambulance Service Charity, said:

“We are absolutely delighted that this innovative project has been recognised as a finalist in the prestigious HSJ Awards.

“This achievement highlights the power of collaboration and demonstrates what can be accomplished when people come together with a shared commitment to saving lives.

“Projects like this are only possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters. Their donations help turn ambitious ideas from our staff into life-saving initiatives that make a real difference in our communities.

“A huge thank you to everyone involved in bringing this project to life, and congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”