Volunteer emergency responder scheme launches in Norfolk

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has worked with the charity Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS) to recruit more than 20 volunteers to help the ambulance service respond to serious incidents.

The new Emergency Responder scheme launched at the beginning of October, and since then volunteers have already responded to 56 emergencies, with an average response time of 8 minutes 20 seconds. The emergency responders are based out of their base in Dereham but will attend calls across Norfolk, providing extra response capacity for the ambulance service. Dispatchers in the ambulance control room can deploy them to suitable incidents.

The volunteers come from a variety of different backgrounds, with serving police officers and fire fighters along with business owners and military personnel among the responders recruited as part of the emergency responder scheme.

Volunteer doctors, nurses, advanced paramedics, paramedics and first responders from NARS already help EEAST to provide care to patients across Norfolk.

Lucy Stocker works full-time in EEAST's Norwich emergency operations centre as a tactical assistant, and in her spare time she volunteers for NARS as a first responder.

She said: "I have been a volunteer first responder at NARS for the past two years and joined the emergency responder scheme with the goal of making a positive impact in the local community while developing my skills and knowledge in emergency care. Volunteering in this capacity has been incredibly rewarding, and I take great pride in being able to support patients during their time of need."

Launching the emergency responder scheme, EEAST's Head of Collaborative Response Tom Barker said: "We are thrilled to be launching this new emergency responder scheme in partnership with NARS, following a successful rollout of a similar scheme elsewhere in the region. It will allow us to respond to patients more quickly and get help to seriously injured or unwell patients."

Carl Smith from the NARS Senior Leadership Team said: "Getting the emergency responder scheme live at NARS is great and offers another level of care from us as Norfolk’s Emergency Medical Charity to patients across the county. We are really pleased with the amount of taskings the team has already had to help patients at their time of need."

NARS is a charity organisation which relies on the support of local people and businesses to provide a free, life-saving service. If you would like to find out more about their work, or donate, please visit their website.

Photo caption: Two volunteer emergency responders with two NARS volunteer paramedics on Cromer Pier.