Norfolk firefighters and paramedics handed award celebrating their collaboration
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) is celebrating its success at an awards night for the emergency services, which saw two of its partnership projects with fire services recognised.
EEAST and fire service partners won awards in two categories at the Excellence in Fire and Emergency Awards, held last Thursday.
The first award was Emergency Services Collaboration of the Year, for the Community Wellbeing Officer project in partnership with Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Essex fire services.
This initiative sees dedicated fire officers in these counties, trained by EEAST clinicians, responding to people who have had a fall – providing vital assistance to patients in their homes.
People who fall in their home environment are statistically more at risk of fire in their dwelling, so alongside supporting patients when they have fallen, CWOs are trained in fire prevention and conduct fire safety checks in the patient's home.
If additional medical support is required, they can request help from an ambulance crew to ensure patients receive the care they need.
The second award was Collaboration of the Year, for EEAST's partnership with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS).
This collaboration has seen firefighters at several fire stations across Norfolk trained to respond to life-threatening emergencies.
Working with the fire service, EEAST can ensure medical help gets to patients who need it as quickly as possible.
Since the start of the year, NFRS has responded to nearly 50 Category 1 emergencies – the most serious. In 40% of cases, they have arrived first on scene, ahead of ambulance crews, to begin life-saving treatment.
The co-responding fire stations are Sheringham, Cromer, North Walsham, Dereham, Hunstanton, Heacham and Sandringham. Two more stations are currently being trained before going live as co-response stations.
Jo Fletcher, associate director of urgent and emergency care integration at EEAST, said: "We are thrilled to receive these awards, which highlight the power of emergency services collaborating and innovating together to improve community health and safety.
"Our joint working with fire services across the region is testament to the dedication of all teams involved, and we look forward to continuing to work together for the benefit of the patients and communities we proudly serve."
