Latest news with #SouthWesternAmbulanceService
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Plan to phase out South West co-responder service criticised
A union has warned some rural fire stations are at risk of closure due to a decision to phase out a role which sees firefighters be first responders in some medical emergencies in the south-west of firefighters are trained to co-respond to fire and medical calls but the South Western Ambulance Service Trust said this was no longer financially trust said it saved about £60 per call by using its voluntary community first responders, who are paid only Fire and Rescue Services Association said the viability of some fire stations depended on the payments received for delivering medical care. 'Absolutely aghast' Tristan Ashby, chief executive of the union, said: "Co-responder calls can very much outweigh the number of standard fire calls that a station receives, so in terms of the recruitment and retention for on-call firefighters, it is vitally important that we continue fire co-responders within the South West."We were absolutely aghast when we heard... that [the ambulance trust] wanted to make the move from the fire co-responders to volunteers."The union said it had been told the total annual savings projected by the ambulance trust was about £280,000It said the sum was "an extremely small amount of money within the grand scheme of fire service budgets". The trust did not comment on the total projected savings but said financial considerations were just one part of its decision and patients would benefit from a higher level of care from community first Ashby said the union was calling on fire services or the government to consider paying the trust to keep using fire and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said it was not aware of a payment to the ambulance trust being part of discussions so said fire co-responders had "carried out some amazing acts" in the 27 years they had operated in Devon and Somerset."We are saddened to see that South Western Ambulance Service will be phasing co-responding out," it said. 'Incredibly sad' Kathryn Billing, Cornwall's chief fire officer, said co-responders had worked with "exceptional dedication" and "saved countless lives"."I am disappointed by the decision to cease our co-responding agreement," she said."Our firefighters have provided a consistent, professional community response for nearly three decades."This is an incredibly sad end to a partnership which I know has made a significant difference to so many in our most rurally isolated communities. "I am incredibly proud of one and all who have been involved with our co-responders partnership over the past 29 years, the passion, pride and professionalism and the lives saved will not be forgotten by us nor the communities they serve." Training offered The ambulance trust said community first responders "receive an enhanced level of clinical training"It said: "As part of the transition, we have invited fire co-responders to train to become community first responders, so they can acquire new skills and continue to help support their local community in a medical emergency."The BBC has asked the government for comment.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Large emergency response rushes to Swindon town centre
Police, fire and ambulance crews have attended an incident in Swindon town centre. The large emergency presence has descended on Newhall Street off Commercial Road. The road was completely blocked off to traffic and members of the public by officers from Wiltshire Police. Several police cars and officers could be seen at the scene. Also in attendance were crews from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, with at least two fire engines, one of which could be seen deploying it's aerial ladder. South Western Ambulance Service were also there. Ongoing incident on Newhall Street in Swindon. Heavy emergency service presence in the area. — Jamie Singleton (@JamieSi41376229) May 25, 2025 Officers at the scene would not say what was going on when asked, and nearby residents also appeared to be none-the-wiser. Official details about what has happened are not yet known, but Wiltshire Police did urge people to avoid the area in a post on the Swindon Police Facebook page. In that post, a spokesperson for Wiltshire Police also sought to reassure the public. They said: "We are currently dealing with an incident in the Newhall area of Swindon. "Multiple officers are in attendance but we would like to reassure the community that there is no risk to the general public. "We would urge people to avoid the area."
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
Paramedic takes on driving challenge for cancer
A paramedic from Cornwall is taking on a bucket list challenge of driving 7,000 miles (11,265km) across Europe to raise money for the cancer charity that supported him. Richard Mellor aims to drive his electric car from his home in Bodmin across eight different countries to the most northern point in Europe reached by road in Nordkapp, Norway. Mr Mellor, from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, was diagnosed with cancer seven years ago and has been supported by Macmillan Cancer Support. "I want to do this road trip to show that, even after multiple operations and during extended cancer treatment, you can still live your dreams," he said. The trip will see him travel through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland before the final leg in Norway. He is due to start the challenge on 5 June, will wild camp along the route and said he hoped to complete it in about three weeks. Mr Mellor said when he was diagnosed with cancer "everything stopped" and he "forgot to keep living". He said the "cancer dominated everything" in his life. "My life was just getting through each day and I felt I couldn't make any plans for the future," Mr Mellor said. "Many people have a bucket list that they intend to do one day, but before you realise, that day has passed." He hopes to raise £3,000 for the charity so they can support others in the future. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Annual 'rowathon' to raise cancer charity funds Cancer hike raises more than £500k for charity 'My bowel cancer diagnosis prompted me to raise awareness' South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Macmillan Cancer Support
BBC News
18-05-2025
- BBC News
Cornish paramedic takes on dream drive during cancer treatment
A paramedic from Cornwall is taking on a bucket list challenge of driving 7,000 miles (11,265km) across Europe to raise money for the cancer charity that supported him. Richard Mellor aims to drive his electric car from his home in Bodmin across eight different countries to the most northern point in Europe reached by road in Nordkapp, Mellor, from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, was diagnosed with cancer seven years ago and has been supported by Macmillan Cancer Support. "I want to do this road trip to show that, even after multiple operations and during extended cancer treatment, you can still live your dreams," he said. 'Cancer dominated everything' The trip will see him travel through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland before the final leg in is due to start the challenge on 5 June, will wild camp along the route and said he hoped to complete it in about three Mellor said when he was diagnosed with cancer "everything stopped" and he "forgot to keep living".He said the "cancer dominated everything" in his life."My life was just getting through each day and I felt I couldn't make any plans for the future," Mr Mellor said."Many people have a bucket list that they intend to do one day, but before you realise, that day has passed."He hopes to raise £3,000 for the charity so they can support others in the future.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
More than 70 firefighters battle Boscastle blaze
More than 70 firefighters were called to fight a fire in a home in Boscastle on Saturday.A spokesperson for Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said the team had received multiple calls at 12:42 GMT reporting the fire in Fore six fire engines were sent to the blaze that the spokesperson said had started in the ground floor and "spread quickly" to the said crews from Bodmin, Bude, Delabole, Liskeard, Lostwithiel, Padstow, Perranporth and St Austell fire stations fought the fire and were supported by the South Western Ambulance Service and Devon and Cornwall Police. The fire service confirmed it had been put out by 09:45 BST on spokesperson said an investigation had been carried out but no further information would be shared.
