Firefighters Recognised For Providing Vital Assistance To Their Ambulance Colleagues During Pandemic

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) has been given the ‘Make a Difference’ emergency services award by BBC Three Counties Radio. 

The popular award recognises blue light services which ‘put the needs of others ahead of their own’.

The award was given to BFRS after the service seconded more than 20 firefighters to the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) to drive frontline emergency ambulances between April and August. 

The firefighters who joined EEAST were able to free-up critical resources as medics continued to deliver care to their patients. 

Simon King, EEAST’s head of operations for Bedfordshire, said: 

“We are very grateful for the incredible support we have received from our colleagues in the fire and rescue service during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The firefighters and community safety team have played an important role in helping us to keep our patients, staff and volunteers safe by giving up their time to drive our vehicles, provide a full response service, rural responding to high acuity calls and providing a specialist response for our complex patients. 

“This, in turn, has freed up our crews to continue delivering frontline care.

“On behalf of everyone at EEAST, I would like to congratulate them on this well-deserved award and thank them once more for their hard work and dedication.”

Paul Fuller, BFRS chief fire officer, said: 

“We are delighted to have won this award. It is a credit to the way our firefighters fitted into EEAST’s team’s right across Bedfordshire. 

“This has been remarkable, and both services are looking to build on this collaborative spirit and camaraderie. We are already planning a number of projects to continue to benefit patients and the wider community.

“I would like to thank our colleagues at EEAST for the support that they have given us and our firefighters over the past six months. 

“This has been a very proud day for us. And I would also like to thank Simon King who presented us with a plaque to thank us for this joint collaboration supporting our ambulance service and saving people’s lives.”