Patients and staff reunited at SECAmb’s sixth annual survivors’ event

Patients from across South East Coast Ambulance Service’s (SECAmb) region have once again been reunited with the ambulance teams who saved their lives at the Trust’s annual ‘Our Survivors’ event.

The event, now in its sixth year, celebrates the clinical skills of SECAmb staff and the lives they have saved.

Eight patients, whose lives were saved by the clinical interventions of SECAmb staff, were reunited with their lifesavers for the first time on Sunday (25 September) at Ashdown Park Hotel, near Forest Row, East Sussex. (See below and the event booklet for full details).

The event celebrates the life-saving skills of SECAmb staff and volunteers, the quick-thinking of those at the scene in beginning treatment and calling 999 and the lives of those saved. It also emphasises the importance of early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for cardiac arrest patients.

A moving short film telling each patient’s story was produced and has been uploaded to Youtube. It can be found by searching for ‘SECAmb Our Survivors 2016’ or via the following link: http://bit.ly/2cHynJH

Each patient and member of the SECAmb team involved in their care was presented with a special memento pin badge. The Trust was also pleased to be joined at the event by special guest, Consultant Cardiologist and renowned founder of the UK paramedic profession, Professor Douglas Chamberlain.

SECAmb Acting Chief Executive, Geraint Davies said: “I am immensely proud of our staff and what they achieve day in day out. Our Survivors is an amazing event which makes it clear how much the dedication and skill of our staff means to our patients and their families and friends.

“While it would be impossible to share all the great successes our staff are delivering, these eight stories represent what is being achieved across our region on a daily basis.

“It is team work that is required to deliver great outcomes – from those at the scene who act quickly and dial 999 and begin lifesaving treatment, to our staff in our control centres, the ambulance clinicians, specialist teams such as the air ambulance and volunteers providing the highest quality of treatment to patients.

“I’d like to thank all the patients and their families for sharing their stories with us in order for us to empahsise the importance of early CPR and the excellent work of our staff and volunteers.”

‘Our Survivors’ 2016

Gerald Marchant, Pembury, Kent

Paul Fowler, Hoo, Kent

Peter Rabbatts, Maidstone, Kent

Sir Hugh Bennett, Ardingly, Sussex

Trevor Cowburn, Crawley, Sussex

Imogen Guest, Redhill, Surrey

Dr Leslie Campbell, Hambledon, Surrey

Alex Royle, Farnborough, Hampshire