NHS invests £6 million to strengthen response to terrorist attacks with new state-of-the-art training facilities

A brand new, cutting-edge facility where ambulance teams across England can train for disasters – from building collapses to airplane crashes or terror attacks – has opened following a £5.9 million investment from NHS England and London Ambulance Service.

The NHS Resilience Emergency Capabilities Unit (NHSR ECU), commissioned by NHS England and hosted by London Ambulance Service, provides specialist training to ambulance services across the country so they can respond to a range of high-risk and challenging incidents.

Training scenarios at the new state-of-the-art facilities will involve marauding terrorist attacks, chemical hazards, collapsed buildings and treating injured patients at height.

Natasha Wills, Director of Resilience and Specialist Assets at London Ambulance Service, said: “Our incredible colleagues across the country stand ready to care for the nation in some of its most harrowing and devastating moments.

“Caring for patients in high-risk environments, whether that is a terrorist attack, a large building fire or a train crash, requires a huge amount of skill, clinical expertise and strategic oversight.

“We are investing in our patients and the command and interoperable capabilities of our teams by enhancing the educational programme we offer to our NHS partners.”

The unit’s move to Capita’s Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh – a site renowned for multi-agency training which Capita has leased to London Ambulance Service for specialist training – will provide better opportunities for learning and collaboration with upgraded facilities.

The refurbished facilities will soon include access to the Immersive Skills Lab which harnesses the latest technology in virtual reality to simulate real-world scenarios, enabling responders from different services to practice coordinated responses and a broader range of incident ground training.

Dr Mike Prentice, National Director for NHS Resilience at NHS England, said: “Ambulance crews across the country play such a crucial role in saving lives and are first to respond alongside our blue lights partners when the unimaginable happens.

“The investment in these new facilities will bring together the very best in clinical expertise and equip our specialist staff with the latest tools, skills and training they need to safely care for communities in the most dangerous and complex circumstances.”

The new facilities will support NHSR ECU’s strategy to ensure that specialist teams are providing clinically-led patient care which aligns with recommendations from the Manchester Arena Inquiry.

Natasha added: “Our new training centre brings together expertise from ambulance services and our emergency services partners under one roof.

“We are proud to invest in teams across the country with our new base – a world-class facility that enhances our ability to train, collaborate, and innovate.”

Hume Jones, Managing Director at Capita Fire and Rescue, said: “We are proud to welcome the NHS Resilience Emergency Capabilities Unit to the college where emergency responders will be training and practising their skills using our unique incident ground as well as our cutting-edge technology in the recently-opened Immersive Skills Lab.”

The NHSR ECU is the national centre of excellence for emergency preparedness, resilience, and response across England’s ambulance services.

Hosted by London Ambulance Service and commissioned by NHS England, the unit is dedicated to ensuring that the NHS is ready to respond to the most complex, high-risk, and challenging incidents – whenever and wherever they occur.