Bedfordshire fire and ambulance services’ joint working shortlisted for award
A collaboration between Bedfordshire’s fire and ambulance services has been shortlisted for an industry award.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) has been shortlisted for Project of the Year at the Global Search and Rescue Excellence Awards 2025, for its work with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) which sees trained firefighters respond to the most serious medical emergencies in their area.
There are 3 fire stations in Bedfordshire where firefighters have been trained by EEAST paramedics to co-respond to Category 1 and Category 2 calls in the area, such as cardiac arrests. The aim of the partnership is to get help to patients as quickly as possible, in situations where every second counts.
Over the last 12 months, firefighters in Bedfordshire have co-responded to 333 medical emergencies, of which 203 were Category 1 emergencies. The fire service arrived first on scene in 70% of the Category 1 calls they attended. The fire teams have been trained to deliver basic life support, and can be dispatched by ambulance control if they are not undertaking their normal duties.
EEAST also has a co-response scheme in place with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, who are jointly shortlisted for the award with BFRS.
Tom Barker, Head of Collaborative Response at EEAST, said: “I’m thrilled to see our joint working with Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service recognised through the Global Search and Rescue Excellence Awards. We are very proud of our blue-light collaborative working with the fire service, which is all about getting help to patients who need it as quickly as possible.
“To be shortlisted for the Project of the Year award is testament to the hard work that our fire colleagues put into helping their communities. It’s an incredible achievement, and to win the award would be amazing. I wish BFRS the best of luck!”
Stuart Auger, Head of Response at BFRS, said: “It's fantastic to see the joint working of Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and EEAST recognised through the Global Search and Rescue Excellence Awards. We are incredibly proud of our collaborative efforts, all focused on delivering rapid patient-centred care to those who need it in our community.
“To be shortlisted for the Project of the Year award is a true reflection of the dedication and hard work from our teams in serving their communities. It’s an outstanding achievement, and winning the award would be a remarkable milestone.”
The Global Search and Rescue Excellence Awards 2025 take place on 16 May in central London. More details about the awards can be found here: https://fire-magazine.co.uk/gsar-awards.