Hertfordshire students to deliver life-saving care on 999 callouts
Trained student volunteers will respond to life-threatening 999 calls across Hertfordshire from early 2027
University of Hertfordshire students will help treat critically ill patients across the county, with a new blue-light vehicle expected to launch in 2027.
Students from the University of Hertfordshire are set to join a frontline emergency response scheme, helping deliver potentially life-saving treatment to patients before an ambulance arrives.
The university has partnered with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Critical Care Service (BHECCS) to create a team of trained student volunteers who will respond to the most serious 999 calls alongside the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST).
A dedicated blue-light Emergency Responder car will be based at the university’s College Lane campus in Hatfield, with students expected to begin attending emergencies in early 2027.
Alexandra Ulrich, principal lecturer in Paramedic Science at the university, said: “The emergency responders are cars that are staffed by a pool of volunteers that respond to life-threatening emergencies in the local area.”
She added that responders “on average, arrive seven minutes before ambulance service resources arrive” and deliver interventions such as chest compressions and defibrillation.
“We know that this is really important to improve survival,” she said.
The vehicles commonly attend the highest-priority 999 calls, including cardiac arrests, breathing difficulties and severe allergic reactions.
Ms Ulrich said: “We really hope our students among the other group of volunteers will be able to deliver that care quickly to our local residents.”
The initiative will also provide students with additional practical experience alongside their existing NHS placements.
“What we want to do at the University of Hertfordshire is to provide the workforce with graduates who are really well-rounded,” she said.
“We really hope that this additional opportunity will provide students additional exposure to healthcare in a different setting.”
She added that the experience could help students develop communication and teamwork skills, preparing them for the demands of working in emergency healthcare.
Applications open on 19 October to suitably qualified students. Applicants must hold a Level 4 First Response Emergency Care (FREC 4) qualification and pass the same selection and assessment process as existing BHECCS volunteers.
Ms Ulrich said the partnership would benefit both students and the wider community, adding: “Hopefully, we're just bringing that care closer and quicker to the patient.”