West Sussex firefighters will respond to emergency medical calls as part of a pilot starting next month.  

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is working in partnership with South East Coast Ambulance Service to initially respond to Red 1 calls where there is an immediate threat to life.  Calls will be assigned to duty fire and rescue staff according to their location, availability and severity of the medical incident. Their role is to provide emergency lifesaving medical intervention until appropriate ambulance service resources arrive.

Fire crews will not be involved in the transport of patients.

Every co-responding call attended, will be logged and analysed during the pilot.