East Midlands Ambulance Service

03/06/2026

Dronfield Community First Responders are just one of our many Community First Response schemes which cover our communities across the East Midlands.

We have a number of opportunities available in the region for Community First Responders, so if you think you can make a difference to your community and be the difference to our patients, visit https://east-midlands-ambulance-service-nhs-trust.goassemble.com/opportunities =grid&s=date_advertised&o=desc&limit=14&include=image&public_search=true

As it’s We’d like to celebrate our CFRs for all the time they volunteer for our community and East Midlands Ambulance Service

02/06/2026

Volunteers Week (1 to 7 June) takes place across the UK. Across the East Midlands, hundreds of volunteers give up their free time, skills and compassion every day to make a big impact in their communities and to help those who need it most.

According to the latest national ambulance volunteering survey conducted by The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, volunteers for East Midlands Ambulance Service are reporting high levels of satisfaction and significant personal benefits.

The findings, based on responses from 180 EMAS volunteers, highlight the vital role volunteers play within the ambulance service, with more than three quarters of respondents (78.3%) saying they were satisfied or very satisfied with their volunteering experience.

They also highlighted strong relationships with their teams, with 72.2% agreeing they have a good relationship with their local volunteering team.

For many, volunteering is more than a role. It is a chance to give back and be part of the wider ambulance service, with the opportunity to learn, grow and develop new skills.

The survey shows that volunteering with EMAS is making a real difference to individuals:

-81.7% of volunteers reported increased skills
-68.3% said their personal development, including confidence and self-esteem, had improved
-Over a third (35.6%) reported improved health and wellbeing

Our volunteers come from all walks of life, where for some volunteering is the start of something new and for others, it is a way to use a lifetime of experience to help others.

The research shows that volunteers are driven by a strong desire to give something back.

-Over half (51.7%) said they wanted to make good use of their free time
-A similar proportion (51.1%) said they wanted to get involved in their local community
-More than a third (37.2%) said they believe in what the organisation does

Michael Barnett-Connolly, Head of Community Response, said:

"I want to thank all of our amazing volunteers at EMAS, who go above and beyond to help make a lasting difference to the people in our communities across the region. They are integral to not only our response as an ambulance service but to also helping build stronger and safer communities across the region.

"The feedback from the survey will help shape ongoing improvements to ensure volunteering with EMAS remains a positive, rewarding and sustainable experience for everyone involved."

If you are interested in volunteering in your community, visit the EMAS website for more information www.emas.nhs.uk/join-team-emas/volunteers

01/06/2026

We are celebrating all that is great about our volunteers as part of Volunteers Week which runs from Monday 1st - Sunday 7th June 2026. Our volunteers play an integral part in the response and care to our patients across the East Midlands and for that we are exceptionally grateful. 🌟

01/06/2026

A young couple in Sleaford reunited with ambulance crews after baby Oscar was born at home following early labour.

On 5 February 2026, 19-year-old Elli Jordan went into labour at home while 37 weeks pregnant, despite being scheduled for a planned caesarean a few weeks later.

Within minutes of her partner, Connor Woodward, calling 999, EMAS crews arrived – delivering baby Oscar at the top of a narrow staircase.

The call was answered by Emergency Medical Advisor Skylar Tangara.

Skylar said: “Congratulations to Elli and Connor on the safe arrival of their beautiful baby boy.

"Being able to help guide them through Oscar’s arrival over the phone is something I will always remember.

"They both did amazingly well."

Connor added: “The whole team who helped deliver the birth of my son deserve the whole world.

"They kept everything calm and reassured, and we can’t thank them enough.”

Earlier that day, Elli had attended hospital with early signs of labour and was advised to return home, but her labour progressed rapidly once back at home.

Elli said: “I’d been told it could take weeks, so when things started progressing, it all happened very quickly.

"Within minutes of ringing 999 the ambulances were here, and about 10 minutes later Oscar arrived.

"The crew kept me completely calm.”

Ambulance technician Stephen Peacock said: “We could see straight away the baby wasn’t going to wait.

"Everyone quickly fell into role and baby Oscar was delivered safely.”

After the birth, Connor cut Oscar’s cord before mother and baby were taken to hospital.

Elli added: “They put Oscar straight on my chest and made sure he was ok, which meant everything.

"The crew even came to say goodbye at the hospital.”

Ambulance technician Zoe Spilsbury said: “I previously worked in the EMAS control room and supported a number of labour calls over the phone. In my experience, those situations can feel even more stressful because you’re not there in person.

“That to me reiterates how important our Emergency Medical Advisors are. They do an incredible job and really deserve that recognition."

Elli, Connor and baby Oscar reunited with the team on 31 May 2026.

30/05/2026

Thanks to a generous donation to Retford Ambulance Station, the station team has been able to purchase some very special training equipment 💚

The STAT Mannequin is a full-size adult mannequin for advanced life support training. It allows our ambulance teams to practice and perfect lots of different life-saving skills, so they're ready to apply them in any situation ✨

We're incredibly grateful to everyone who donates to our EMAS Charitable Fund. Your donations make it possible for us to purchase new equipment that helps our teams save lives - thank you.

More information about EMAS Charitable Fund is on our website - www.emas.nhs.uk/charity

28/05/2026

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has stood down the business continuity incident declared earlier this week (as at 13.00 hours, Thursday 28 May 2026).

The incident was declared following sustained pressure on services across the region, including a significant increase in demand for emergency care.

On Tuesday 26 May, EMAS handled more than 4,500 999 calls – one of the busiest days experienced outside of winter.

While the business continuity incident has been stood down, we know the pressures experienced over the past week remain.

Our focus now is on recovery – improving response times and reducing the waits patients have experienced across our communities, while continuing to prioritise the most life-threatening and serious incidents.

This will be supported by continued senior oversight and coordination over the coming weeks.

We would like to thank our staff and volunteers, who have worked tirelessly during this period to continue supporting patients across the region, and our NHS partners for their continued support despite the significant pressures they are also facing.

Members of the public are asked to continue supporting us during this period.

999 should always be used when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If your condition is not life-threatening, other NHS services may be able to help you more effectively, including:

• NHS 111
• Local pharmacies
• Urgent Treatment Centres
• Your GP

Choosing the most appropriate service helps ensure ambulances are available for those who need them most.

27/05/2026

Dr Steven D***s, Clinical Director at East Midlands Ambulance Service, shares the latest update on the ongoing business continuity incident.

He explains the ongoing pressures, what we're doing to manage demand, and how the public can help us support those with the greatest clinical need.

26/05/2026

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has declared a business continuity incident (as at 19.15 hours, Tuesday 26 May 2026) following sustained pressure on its services across the region.

In recent days, demand for emergency care has increased, including as a result of the hot weather, alongside wider pressures being experienced across the NHS.

A business continuity incident is declared when services may be disrupted below expected levels and additional arrangements are required to maintain patient care.

Declaring a business continuity incident allows EMAS to take additional steps, working closely with NHS partners, to help ensure ambulance crews are available to respond to patients in the community.

This includes:

🟢 Supporting the timely handover of patients at hospital emergency departments, so ambulance crews can return to responding to 999 calls.

🟢 Working with healthcare providers to ensure patients are directed to the most appropriate care.

🟢 Continuing to prioritise the most life-threatening and serious incidents.

This is to ensure emergency ambulances are available to respond to people in the community where life is at risk.

We recognise this is challenging for our NHS partners, who are also working under significant pressure, and we are grateful for their continued support.

Alongside this, EMAS is maximising available resources and reviewing how ambulance crews are deployed across the region.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely, with a focus on maintaining safe patient care and returning to normal service levels as soon as possible.

Members of the public are asked to support us during this period of high demand.

999 should always be used when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If your condition is not life-threatening, there are other NHS services available that may be able to help you.

These include:

- NHS 111 online or by phone.
- Local pharmacies.
- Urgent Treatment Centres.
- Your GP (including out-of-hours services).

Choosing the most appropriate service helps ensure our ambulance crews are available for those who may need them most.

Additional information:

1) Given the severity of the concern, senior leaders will continue to respond to the challenges faced and to ensure support for staff and volunteers at work. Therefore, media interviews will not be conducted tonight. Media requests should be sent via [email protected] and will be responded to tomorrow.

2) In response to pressures in the NHS system and on ambulance services, on Tuesday 26 May 2026, EMAS escalated to Resource Escalation Action Plan (REAP) Level 4 – the highest level which indicates a potential for failures within the service.

3) The Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response framework describes as business continuity incident as: ‘an event or occurrence that disrupts, or might disrupt, an organisation’s normal service delivery, below acceptable predefined levels, where special arrangements are required to be implemented until services can return to an acceptable level (this could be a surge in demand requiring resources to be temporarily redeployed).

26/05/2026

Our control room colleagues, ambulance crews and volunteers are working hard to respond to those who need us most.

We are currently experiencing very high demand, and the wider NHS is also under significant pressure. This means it's more important than ever to access the most appropriate service for your needs.

If you need urgent medical help that isn't life-threatening, there are other NHS services available - including pharmacies, NHS 111, and urgent treatment centres - which can help.

If you're able to safely make your own way to a local NHS service, such as an urgent treatment centre or if it's an emergency, A&E, with support from a family member or by taxi, this may help you receive care more quickly.

Only calling 999 for life-threatening emergencies helps ensure our crews are available to respond to those patients in critical need.

26/05/2026

Thunderstorms are forecast across the East Midlands later this afternoon, including into the evening commute. Some areas may see heavy showers with thunder and lightning ⛈️

💦 Rain may be heavier in places, which could lead to surface water on roads and pavements.

🧐 Visibility can reduce quickly during downpours, so take care if travelling.

👂 If you hear thunder, it's a good idea to move indoors or into a vehicle.

🌳 Try to keep clear of open spaces and tall or exposed objects, such as trees and metal fencing.

⏱️ Allow a little extra time for journeys and check travel updates if needed.