UK Super-Paramedics Join Forces with Police

Specialist paramedics are joining forces with the police to help deal with emergencies more quickly.

The pilot scheme focusing on the centre of Eastbourne may also cut the number of people who need to be taken to accident and emergency.

It will centre on the seafront and Seaside Road area where there are pubs and clubs and where most cases of drink-related crime, disorder and injuries happen at weekends.

Sussex Ambulance Service emergency care practitioners, also known as super-paramedics, are qualified to carry out a wide variety of procedures such as stitching wounds and dealing with minor injuries without having to take a patient to hospital.

They will work with police in Eastbourne's Devonshire ward area from Thursdays to Saturdays between 7pm and 7am for the next three months.

The idea is that in certain cases, such as reports of a fight, the super-paramedics will go out at the same time as a police team.

They will be able to assess a patient, deal with them there and then or, if necessary, arrange to take them to hospital. Nigel Hussey from Eastbourne Downs Primary Care Trust is leading the project.

He said: "This type of pilot has been undertaken elsewhere in the country and because we found that such a high number of ambulance call-outs were coming from the Devonshire ward we were tasked to do something about it."

Mr Hussey said the move could lead to less abuse directed at ambulance staff because of the police presence. It would also mean police would not arrive at a scene, realise an ambulance was needed and then have to wait for one to come out.

Bob Gough, Sussex Police Chief Inspector at Eastbourne, is also chairman of the Eastbourne Crime Reduction Partnership. He said: "The partnership is always looking for innovative ways to improve their service to the community and reduce crime and disorder.

"This pilot is just one example of a range of initiatives to tackle public place violent crime.

"By working jointly with colleagues in the ambulance service it is hoped police officers' time will be freed up to enhance their already robust approach to those people committing crime and antisocial behaviour in the town."

The pilot will run until the end of August.

Mr Hussey said: "Ambulance and police services have excellent monitoring systems in place and following the pilot we will be able to see how many call-outs we had to the Devonshire area between these times.

"We will then get a clear picture of whether the pilot has been effective."

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