Ambulance service ‘inundated’ with support as 100 return to work
Up to 100 former members of staff have returned to work for South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) during the coronavirus pandemic.
SECAmb said it has been ‘inundated’ with messages of support and offers of assistance in recent weeks, as staff and volunteers continue to work hard under huge pressures. The ambulance service also thanked the public for their continued support and urged everyone to continue to closely follow the government’s guidance.
Executive director for nursing and quality, and the trust’s executive Covid-19 lead, Bethan Eaton-Haskins, said: “It has been truly humbling to see the support from the public during these unprecedented times.
“This support, whether it be a message of thanks on social media, or an offer to help with resources or provide staff with help with their dayto-day living, it is all really appreciated. A small gesture goes a very long way and will be remembered. The single best way people can continue to support us, the wider NHS, its partner organisations and the whole country, however, is to follow the rules we must all abide by to limit the spread of the virus.”
SECAmb placed on record its gratitude to staff who had returned to work for the trust to increase its operational capabilities. A spokesman said: “In the region of 100 staff are returning to SECAmb on bank contracts to respond to patients.
“A number of existing non-operational staff have adapted their roles to provided additional support to the operations team and volunteers have provided assistance in a variety of ways further support the trust’s frontline response.”
SECAmb has teamed up with the Jumbulance Trust to adapt a vehicle to assist with multiple patient transfers.
A spokesman said: “Traditionally the accessible holidays and travel charity uses its Jumbulance medically equipped coach vehicles, which are fitted with stretchers, to give those with disabilities and severe illnesses, and other significantly dependent individuals, the opportunity to travel in safety and comfort across the UK and Europe.
“The charity will provide drivers for the vehicle, who have undergone additional training, while the vehicle will be crewed by critical care paramedics.
“The vehicle, which will be used in the coming weeks as required, will be able to transport up to five stretchered patients at a time – avoiding multiple trips by different ambulance crews.”