Blue light collaboration project wins top industry award
Date: 21 November 2024A collaboration between the region's ambulance service and three fire and rescue services to help people who have fallen has earned national recognition.
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) won the Partnership Working Award at the National Fire Chiefs Council’s Prevention Awards on Thursday 14 November, for its project which sees trained officers from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex fire services respond to people who have fallen at home.
The initiative was launched in December 2023. Community Wellbeing Officers (CWOs) employed by the three fire services and trained by the ambulance service respond to patients who have fallen at home but are not injured. They can also assist the ambulance service in responding to concerns for welfare, as well as life-threatening medical emergencies such as cardiac arrests.
Since the launch, CWOs across Essex, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire fire and rescue services have:
- responded to almost 1,500 incidents
- arrived first on scene in 90% of cases
- assisted 40% of patients that have had a fall without additional support - freeing up ambulances to respond to more serious medical emergencies in the community.
Tom Barker, Head of Collaborative Response at EEAST, said: "It is fantastic to see the Community Wellbeing Officer project recognised at the highest level within the fire service, by winning this award. Everyone involved in the scheme has worked incredibly hard to make it a success, and it is truly making a difference to people’s lives across the east of England.
"On behalf of EEAST, I want to thank the NFCC for the award, and colleagues at Essex, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire fire and rescue services who work closely with us to ensure we get help to people who need it as quickly as possible by innovating and collaborating."
Beyond attending medical emergencies, CWOs deliver more services during visits, including:
- Conducting home fire safety checks, ensuring smoke alarms are functional
- Identifying trip and fall hazards to improve home safety
- Offering fire prevention advice, enhancing community wellbeing.
By combining resources and expertise, the project has set a benchmark for effective partnership working in public services.
Photo caption: EEAST's Tom Barker (fourth from left) with colleagues from Beds, Cambs and Essex fire services at the NFCC awards night.
