News: News

“It happens every single day” – verbal abuse takes its toll on 999 call handlers in third episode of BBC’s Ambulance documentary

The harsh reality of daily verbal abuse and aggression from 999 callers comes under the spotlight in the next episode of BBC One’s Ambulance documentary on Wednesday (30 September).

A message from the Chief Executive – 25 September

It is with great sadness that I announce the sudden death of Eleanor Marr on Sunday 20 September 2020.

Service’s End of Life Care team raises funds for Macmillan Coffee Morning

Our End of Life Care team has been travelling across the capital to raise vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support – serving coffee and cakes and talking to colleagues about palliative care.

The Service partnered with Macmillan Cancer Support in 2018 to provide our staff and volunteers with specialist training to ensure that terminally ill people get care that meets their needs but respects their wishes. As part of this, Macmillan funded three roles in our End of Life Care (EOLC) team.

The team held a series of socially-distanced coffee mornings at hospitals and London Ambulance Service sites on Thursday 24 September ahead of the charity’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday.

Episode 2 of ‘Ambulance’ shows the contribution of voluntary Emergency Responders

The episode, airing on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One, goes behind the scenes of two busy weekend shifts where LAS faces the challenges of Extinction Rebellion protests and People’s Vote marches and an IT systems outage which means the Service’s Emergency Operations Centre control room teams must use pen and paper to take down information from 999 callers.

A message from the Chief Executive – 21 September

It is with immense sadness that I have to announce the death of our friend and colleague Reverend Simon Woodmore, who passed away on Saturday afternoon (19 September) after suffering with a stroke earlier in the week.

He was 51 years old. Simon joined the London Ambulance Service in 1991 and served more than 29 years.

Award-winning show returns to shine spotlight on heroes of country’s busiest ambulance service

A prime-time documentary will show the commitment of our ambulance crews and control room staff on the front-line of emergency care in London and the challenges they face.

‘Ambulance’ –the BBC’s BAFTA-award winning series – returns to the capital with a new eight-part series broadcast weekly on BBC One from Wednesday (16 September) at 9pm.

Service’s ‘Tea Trucks’ given NHS Charities funding boost to continue serving refreshments to hard-working crews

We have received funding from NHS Charities Together to continue to run “Tea Trucks” which have been delivering hot drinks and snacks to our crews across the capital.

Service introduces new measures to help lead to tougher staff assault sentences

We have recruited two violence reduction officers as part of our ongoing work to protect staff and volunteers. The officers will work closely with the Met Police as they support victims who want to take their cases to court.

Child 999 caller given recognition for saving family’s life

A ten-year-old girl has been recognised by London Ambulance Service for saving the lives of her family after finding her mother unconscious with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Rawda Mohamud woke in the middle of the night to hear the carbon monoxide alarm going off in their south London flat.

Mayor opens hi-tech training academy boosting control room response ahead of busy winter period

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan joined LAS staff and volunteers for the unveiling of a plaque to formally launch the 999 centre which welcomed its first students in recent weeks.

Van loan gives vital boost to our coronavirus response

Medics responding to emergencies during the coronavirus pandemic were supported by a loan of a mini fleet of vans to help deliver personal protective equipment (PPE) to the front line.

Medic reunited with family after being separated since the start of lockdown

After months of separation, London Ambulance Service medic Hina Pajwani has been reunited with her family just in time to spend their late father’s birthday together.

Tony reveals more than just a new look with post-lockdown haircut

As the UK began to emerge from lockdown, the much longed-for haircut was one of the most anticipated moments for many.

But for Team LAS medic Tony Keegan, it meant more than just a dramatic new look as – for the first time – revealed his hearing implants.

Medic continues to help save lives while recovering from coronavirus

A London Ambulance Service paramedic who survived COVID-19 is calling on others who have recovered from the virus to join him in taking part in a national trial to see if blood plasma could help treat people who are seriously ill with the condition.

Independent review supports Service’s approach of seeking bigger role for patients in shaping our services

An independent review has recognised the ‘deep commitment’ of London Ambulance Service to improving services by working with patients and members of the public.

“London has been amazing: the experiences and challenges you have are like nowhere else”

A paramedic who has worked for five different ambulance services in three different countries says London is the very best place to work.

Firefighter responding with our crews thanked for restoring memorial bench

Not only has Station Sub-Officer Nik Zakis been driving ambulances on blue lights and helping his crewmates on scene, but he also painstakingly restored a memorial bench at an ambulance station which is dedicated to a former member of LAS staff.

Croydon medic up for Health Hero Award

Jennie Clayton, a medic based in Croydon, set up a mobile tuck shop on her days off and distributed donations from the public – from drinks and snacks to loaves from the bakery – to her colleagues.

“The best birthday present anyone could ever ask for”

Mike, an Emergency Call Coordinator working in our 999 control room, surprised his Nan for her 80th birthday after spending five months apart because of coronavirus.

Prime Minister thanks London Ambulance Service for “brilliant response” to COVID-19

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today thanked everyone at London Ambulance Service for the “brilliant response” to COVID-19.