Al;ex spoke to us about the role of 1st responders in the South and Central Ambulance Charity.
The NHS benefits from people working in this charity helping them meet their response time targets but in reality they are charities and are not formally part of the NHS structure.
South and Central Ambulance Charity Presentation: 22 nd August 2025
Forgive my ignorance, but until I attended a girls’ football tournament at Hook Norton earlier
in the year, I’d never heard of SCAC, or, to give its full name, South Central Ambulance
Charity. On speaking to Alex, one of the 2 green uniformed members attending, I
discovered they were First Responders, part of a group of around 700 unpaid volunteers.
So, we invited Alex to attend our meeting on Friday 22 nd August.
SCAC share the 999 call system with the NHS and the chances are that, because of the
shortage of NHS ambulances, if you dial 999 in an emergency, a First Responder will arrive
first. Each member carries a first aid kit, including oxygen and a defibrillator, worth in excess
of £4000 and will attend to the patient until the ambulance arrives.
But here’s the problem. SCAC are a charity and receive no financial support from the NHS
or direct from the government and because they have not been able to raise sufficient funds
over the last 2 years, they are in danger of closing. The dedicated SCAC vehicles have been
sold off and the responders now use their own vehicles.
As well as relying on public donations, the members work hard to raise funds by attending
public events (like the football tournament, concerts, fetes etc.) and giving a series of training
sessions including first aid, CPR and defibrillator use.
These volunteers really are a vital part of our emergency services.
For more information see the SCAC website.
JB.