Paramedic Brent marks 40 years as EEAST turns 20

The Trust was established in 2006 through the merger of three services: Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Ambulance and Paramedic Service NHS Trust, East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust, and Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

One person who has been part of that journey from the very beginning is paramedic Brent Sylvester, who is now a Hospital Ambulance Liaison Officer (HALO) based at Southend University Hospital.

Brent transferred from Essex Ambulance Service at the time of the merger and is in the rare position of having spent 20 years with both organisations, giving him a unique perspective on how the service has evolved over four decades.

He has witnessed significant changes in training, skills and patient care throughout his career. Starting as a 23-year-old with just two weeks of first aid training, Brent went on to qualify as a paramedic and then an Urgent Care Practitioner, enabling him to assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of urgent health conditions.

Choosing to specialise in urgent care, Brent has always been passionate about understanding what a patient needs and developing the best plan of care for them. He has seen first-hand how the treatments paramedics can provide have advanced dramatically over the years.

Now working as a HALO, Brent plays a vital role linking EEAST with the emergency department at Southend University Hospital, helping to ensure patients are handed over safely and services run as smoothly as possible.

He moved into the role following a prolonged recovery from Covid-19 during the pandemic in 2021. Although he has fully recovered, Brent made the decision to continue in the position so he could remain in the job he loves for longer.

While he says he misses frontline work, he values the opportunity to pass on his years of experience to colleagues when they are at hospital.

Reflecting on his career, Brent highlights the strong camaraderie between ambulance and hospital staff, particularly during the pandemic – something he says continues today.

Brent said:

“I love the job today as much as I did when I first started with the Essex Ambulance Service in 1986.

“You experience both wonderful and difficult moments, but that is all part of the role. Making a difference to patients’ lives, at some of the best and worst times, is incredibly rewarding.

“The ambulance service has changed so much during my career, and the care we provide today is more advanced than ever and continues to improve.”

Simon Chase, Chief Paramedic and Director of Quality at EEAST, who also witnessed the merger first-hand and has worked for the ambulance service for more than 30 years, said:

“The ambulance service has changed significantly over the past 20 years and continues to evolve, adapt and improve.

“What has remained constant is the dedication of our staff in serving their communities, many of whom, like Brent, have devoted decades to the ambulance service and experienced its transformation first-hand.

“As we mark this important milestone for EEAST, it is right that we reflect on what has been achieved, while continuing to look ahead and focus on how we can further improve the care we provide for our patients.”