Nine on-call firefighters from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service have been seconded to the ambulance service. The on-call firefighters will temporarily be seconded to East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) while they experience high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having now received their training, they will be using their skill as blue light trained drivers to assist in driving frontline emergency NHS ambulances alongside EEAST paramedics.
The move to the NHS frontline work follows a national agreement reached about utilizing firefighters across the country to support the work of the NHS. A fulltime firefighter from St Neots has also been seconded to EEAST. He temporarily returns to work as a paramedic, a role he did before becoming a firefighter in 2018.
supporting emergency services
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Jon Anderson said, “Working together and supporting our emergency services colleagues has never been so important. As a Service, we are committed to doing everything we can to help keep our communities in Cambridgeshire safe. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been working closely with EEAST to understand more about their needs how we can assist them through the COVID-19 pandemic."
We’re thankful we are able to offer our help, without compromising our own emergency response to the public”
"We have set up a virtual crewing hub in the eastern region, with representatives from all six Services working together to support our ambulance service. It’s no surprise that so many of our staff have been volunteering their services for our partners and their communities. We’re thankful we are able to offer our help, without compromising our own emergency response to the public.”
maintaining social distancing
Marcus Bailey, Chief Operating Officer with EEAST, said, “We are very grateful to our blue light colleagues in the fire and rescue service and look forward to working closely with them to keep our patients, staff, volunteers and the wider public safe during this pandemic."
"COVID-19 represents an unprecedented challenge for all of us and we truly appreciate the fantastic support we have received from the fire service, the public, businesses and our other partners."
"We would urge people to continue to play their part in helping the NHS by taking extra care of themselves, only going out for essential items, observing advice about hand-washing and maintaining social distancing.”
