Four qualified on call firefighters from St Ives Fire Station now provide a co-response in life threatening medical emergency calls as part of a partnership with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT).

After months of training and preparation Paul Osborne, Ian Oliver, Mike Care and Steven Moore have taken up their new duties as co-responders attending medical emergency calls in addition to their fire fighting duties.

SWASFT will identify the emergencies that are appropriate for the co-responders to attend and they will then be despatched to provide care until an ambulance arrives. The co-responders have all been trained in basic life support procedures and the use of an automatic external defibrillator and oxygen therapy. It is thought they will respond to around 160 medical emergency calls a year.

Similar schemes have been running since 1999, serving the communities of St Keverne, Mullion, St Mawes, Helston and Polruan. The schemes help to ensure that prompt care can be given to patients having life-threatening emergencies in isolated areas. This is part of a wider programme of work across blue light partners to deliver collaborative projects throughout Cornwall.

The co-responders undergo training and assessment with SWASFT on a regular basis to ensure their skills remain up-to-date.

Paul Walker, chief fire officer, said: “We’re very happy to be expanding our work with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to provide additional critical medical emergency cover in St Ives and the surrounding area.

"The Fire and Rescue Service has an important role in Cornwall’s health and social care integration plans as part of the Cornwall Devolution Deal. Working closely with our emergency service colleagues from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust supports our ‘One Public Sector’ approach to deliver efficient and improved services including emergency medical response to residents, businesses and visitors to Cornwall.”

Robert Horton, SWASFT responder manager, added: “Just a few seconds can make all the difference when it comes to saving someone’s life so this collaboration between SWASFT and the St Ives community firefighters not only appropriately makes use of available staff and resources, but helps deliver even better care to residents and visitors in St Ives by arriving in those valuable moments ahead of an ambulance.”

Andrew Mitchell, Cornwall Councillor for St Ives West, said: “I am very pleased to see the co-responders scheme being extended to St Ives Community Fire Station. The scheme has proved itself invaluable and it will make a big difference to response times in St Ives and the surrounding areas. We in St Ives know the dedication of the volunteers who man our fire station and now after intense training they will be there again in the front line saving lives.”