This week, we were at the House of Commons, where we brought together MPs from across the South East to discuss how they can help us reach even more patients and save more lives in the years ahead.
Hosted with the support of Sir Roger Gale MP, the Westminster reception was a opportunity to highlight the lifesaving work our crews deliver every single day across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. MPs heard directly from a doctor and a paramedic about the advanced, hospital level care we provide at the scene of the most serious emergencies, procedures such as open heart surgery, blood transfusions and emergency anaesthesia. They also had the chance to speak with one of our former patients, Chris Rolfe whose story brought home the true impact of our work.
At the event we provided a preview into some of the key enablers within our forthcoming 10-year strategy, outlining how MPs can help make a meaningful difference in their constituencies – helping to give even more people the very best possible chance of survival when the worst happens:
Three key areas were discussed:
- Empowering communities to act fast in a medical emergency
- Developing our aviation capability
- Improving and maintaining access to, hospital helipads across our region
David Welch, our KSS Chief Executive said: “We’re incredibly grateful to all the MPs who joined us at Westminster. Their support is essential in these key areas as we look ahead to the future of our lifesaving service.
“As part of our new strategy, we’ll be launching a transformational new community activation programme which will bring our lifesaving work right into the heart of the communities we serve. This will include more community prevention, education and training initiatives, plus important new volunteering opportunities.
“We will be focussing on developing our aviation capability, looking at how we can reach more patients in low cloud and poor visibility by working closely with key stakeholders on important areas of regulation and technology. We’ll also be looking at the ways in which we can improve and safeguard access to hospital helipads to ensure the best possible hospital helipad infrastructure across our region.”
He concluded: “Meeting with MPs this week has shown how, by working more closely together, we can better empower our communities to act fast in a medical emergency, develop our aviation capability, and ensure the best possible hospital helipad infrastructure across our region. All, ultimately, helping to reach more patients and save more lives in our communities.”
Over the last 36 years, KSS has saved thousands of lives and kept countless families and loved ones together by bringing the emergency department to the scene of the most serious medical emergencies. Last year alone, our charity responded to over 3,100 emergencies, an average of nine a day across our region – serving around five million residents, plus over 90 million visitors and commuters every year.
We’re encouraging MPs to champion our vital work in Parliament and across their constituencies as we prepare to launch our new long‑term strategy later this year.
