News: News

The Service welcomes announcement of new bursaries for student paramedics

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced this weekend that some students, including those studying to become a paramedic, will receive a new £5,000 a year bursary.

London Ambulance Service has welcomed the new support – which is the first time paramedic students will benefit from additional NHS funding while at university, with students able to take advantage of the funding from September 2020.

Garrett Emmerson, Chief Executive at London Ambulance Service, said:

“Recruiting sufficient numbers of qualified paramedics remains a continuous challenge for London Ambulance Service, as well as for ambulance trusts across the country, so we really welcome this new financial support for students.

“Being a student can be very tough financially, so anything that helps to ease this pressure and attracts more people into the profession can only be a good thing for us as a service, for those people out there contemplating becoming a paramedic and, most importantly, for our patients.”

Australian paramedic affected by bushfires thanks public for donations and support

An Australian paramedic working for London Ambulance Service whose family have been directly affected by the bushfires raging across the country has thanked the support given to fellow Australian paramedics in London and to his compatriots back home.

We launch fundraising effort to support Australian emergency services battling bushfires

London Ambulance Service has begun raising funds for the Australian Red Cross to support the emergency services tackling the huge bushfires raging across the country.

When launching the appeal today (6 January), the Service paid tribute to the Australian firefighters and rescue teams working tirelessly to put out the fires and keep people safe.

London Ambulance Service retains “Good” rating from healthcare watchdog

Following a CQC inspection of our services and leadership which took place in September 2019, the Service maintains the positive overall rating that was published in May 2018.

New Year’s Eve set to be busiest night of the year for ambulance staff as London welcomes in 2020

We’re preparing for one of the busiest nights of the year with an influx of calls as revellers celebrate the start of the new decade.

Ambulance crews gear up for Christmas party weekend and urge revellers to ‘eat, pace and plan’ for big night out

Ambulance crews and control room staff are expecting a surge in alcohol related incidents this Friday (20 December) as office staff and revellers head out for Christmas celebrations with colleagues and friends.

Celebrating our volunteers on International Volunteer Day

As the saying goes, “There’s nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer” and #InternationalVolunteerDay was our chance to celebrate and say thank you to the hundreds of people who volunteer for us in a number of ways and help us look after London every single day.

Voice of 999 urges Londoners to keep safe while out celebrating this Christmas

A 999 call handler will become a familiar voice to commuters and revellers this festive season as part of a campaign encouraging people to drink sensibly and take care when out celebrating.

Paul Woodrow OBE leaves after three decades of devoted care to Londoners

Paul has had a long and distinguished career of achievements at LAS. Qualifying as a paramedic in 1995 and working on London’s Air Ambulance in 2000, Paul rose through the Service to the position of Director of Operations in 2015.

Statement on incident at London Bridge

“We were called at 2:02pm to reports of an incident at London Bridge. We sent a number of ambulance crews and specialist response teams to the scene, including our hazardous area response unit and our tactical response unit. The first of our medics arrived at the scene within seven minutes. An advanced trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance was also dispatched by road.

Specialist training for ambulance staff to support the treatment of terminally ill patients

Ambulance crews in the capital have undergone specialist training to ensure that terminally ill people get care that meets their needs but respects their wishes.

#InternationalMensDay: Meet the LAS men raising awareness for men’s health this month

Today is #InternationalMensDay and we’d like to introduce you to some of the LAS men who are raising awareness – and money – for men’s health this November.

First London Ambulance Service cycle response unit bicycle on show at the Science Museum

The first bicycle used by our pioneering Cycle Response Unit (CRU) twenty years ago is now on display in the Science Museum’s new Medicine Galleries.

“Centenarian’s cake celebration” – ambulance crew celebrates WWII veteran’s 105th birthday

An ambulance crew who took a patient into hospital last month have reunited with the patient to celebrate his 105th birthday at his hospital bedside.

We recognise more than 2,500 years of service to the NHS at Celebration of Service event

Long-serving members of staff swapped stories and took a trip down memory lane at the biggest ever London Ambulance Service ‘Celebration of Service’ at Gibson Hall in central London yesterday afternoon (Wednesday).

Biggest ever celebration of London Ambulance Service staff

More than 2,500 years of service was celebrated by our staff in the City of London today (Wednesday 13 November).

Trauma medics use 999 callers’ mobile phone camera to help most seriously injured people in the capital

Trauma paramedics are using 999 callers’ mobile phone cameras to get ‘on-scene’ at serious incidents such as stabbings and road traffic collisions in seconds rather than minutes, in the first use of the technology in the capital for serious trauma incidents.

Patient who assaulted ambulance staff during medical treatment convicted

A man who groped a medic who was helping to treat him for a head injury has been found guilty of sexual assault.

Sabeh Shalmair was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years, ordered to do 120 hours of community service, and given a £250 fine.

Safety warning as fireworks are aimed at our ambulance crews

On Saturday night (2 November) a firework was aimed at one of our ambulance crews who were driving on blue lights and sirens to an emergency in Finsbury Park.

The firework exploded near the windshield of the ambulance forcing the crew to swerve and perform an emergency stop. Luckily the crew weren’t treating a patient in the back of the ambulance, but the incident could have delayed or stopped them getting to a patient who needed them, or even have harmed them.