The Southeast Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) terminated a long-term deal under which Gatwick paid to have an ambulance car and an ambulance on site. It has also decided to reduce the number of ambulances and paramedics on standby for emergencies at the Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion Amex Stadium and Goodwood Racecourse in West Sussex. It can do the same in other places. Secamb’s move has led to speculation that other ambulance services may reduce or shut down resources at mass spectator events and focus on “basic” work. England’s 10 regional ambulance services are under pressure to speed up response times, which are increasing across England, and to deal with the growing number of patients who have to wait hours for the crew to arrive, although in some cases they face a threatening life urgency. For many years Gatwick paid Secamb to have an ambulance and an ambulance at the airport, providing medical coverage at both terminals. The deal expired in 2020 when the Covid pandemic saw the number of passengers plummet. With more people traveling again, Gatwick wanted to restart the service, but Secamb refused, citing the need to focus on providing emergency care to the people serving Kent, Surrey, Sussex and northeastern Hampshire. Secamb confirmed that it was considering the level of coverage it provided at mass gatherings and stage events to focus on improving response times to 999 calls. He now has only one ambulance and one staff member on duty at the Amex Stadium. Sources at Secamb said the organizations affected by the review should increase private medical coverage from other providers. “Recognizing the challenges we currently face, we, along with other ambulance trusts, are reviewing our private medical coverage contracts to ensure we provide fair and equal service to all, regardless of where people are in our area.” said the trust representative. “We will monitor the situation and would like to assure anyone present at the sites affected by these changes that they will continue to receive emergency medical care if needed.” The Unison Association, which represents 400,000 NHS staff, including ambulance staff, supported Secamb’s move. “Football pitches and racetracks will have to provide their own medical coverage on the ground, freeing hard-pressed crews to focus on the 999 callers who desperately need their help,” said Josh Cooper, the Southeast’s organizer. “Before the pandemic, less extensive ambulance services often provided coverage for sporting events. “But now the system is under so much pressure that it can barely cover emergency calls, let alone anything else.” A Secamb ambulance claimed that the loss of Gatwick’s ambulance would prove counterproductive, as the service now has to send staff in case of any emergency. Speaking anonymously, the paramedic said: “Most of the work at the airport was falls, drunkenness and minor injuries, so they could either be treated and sent on leave or asked to take a taxi to the local hospital without using an ambulance. “Now the airport will call 999 and an ambulance will have to attend, burdening the workload.” He said that one late Saturday night, Secamb had to send an ambulance to Gatwick after each of the four different calls, which turned out to be about the same medical condition. “If Gacho’s ambulance care was still there, then the four jobs could have been handled by anyone on duty.” NHS England declined to comment.
