Ambulance service in South East improves response times amidst rising demand
SECAmb achieves faster response times despite more emergency calls
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has improved its Category 2 ambulance response times for 2025/26, successfully tackling increased demand for emergency care.
The Trust was tasked by NHS England to achieve an average Category 2 response time of 28 minutes and 19 seconds.
Through concerted efforts and collaboration with partners, SECAmb surpassed this target, achieving a response time of 27 minutes and 46 seconds while attending an additional 30,000 emergency calls over the year.
Category 2 calls involve conditions like suspected heart attacks, strokes, and serious injuries where prompt assessment is critical.
This improvement is attributed to both the frontline ambulance response and enhancements across urgent and emergency care systems.
SECAmb’s Unscheduled Care Navigation Hubs have particularly contributed by providing more patients with timely clinical advice and suitable care pathways.
Chief Executive Simon Weldon commended the staff for their dedication and the positive impact on patient care.
"This is a significant achievement for our organisation and for the communities we serve, particularly given the sustained increase in demand we have seen over the past year," Simon Weldon said.
"Delivering faster responses while handling tens of thousands more emergency calls is only possible because of the professionalism and compassion shown by colleagues across SECAmb."
He added that the hubs have made a real difference by supporting patients effectively, thus enabling resource optimisation.
Looking ahead, SECAmb plans to continue partnering across the region in 2026/27 for further advancements, aiming to enhance clinical pathways and improve patient care.