A South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) team have won a national accolade for saving lives and creating heart safe environments across the region. 

The SWASFT Community First Responder (CFR) team were given the Public Services Award at the 2018 Heart Safe Awards on Friday 26 October. 

The award recognises organisations, including local authorities and emergency services, who have invested in lifesaving equipment and staff training to provide heart safe environments for their employees and the public. 

A hearts safe environment is one where life-saving equipment, such as a defibrillator, and training are provided for staff or customers so that, should a sudden cardiac arrest occur, people are fully prepared to perform resuscitation and additional life support immediately.

 Kevin Dickens, SWASFT Community Responder Officer for Gloucestershire, said: “To win this award is a huge credit to our team, our volunteers, and the people who we’ve engaged with to create cardiac safe environments across the South West by raising awareness of basic life support and defibrillator stations.” 

Rob Horton, SWASFT Responder Manager, said: "This is fantastic recognition for the team and the Trust. It reflects the commitment of the individuals in the team and their passion for what they do empowering the community in a safe and supportive way. I am immeasurably proud for the team to be recognised under this national spotlight." 

Judges said they were impressed by the way the team managed its governance of the defibrillator scheme, which offers advice and support to many organisations and communities who wish to purchase or have purchased the device. 

They also praised the accreditation scheme, which provides support by offering weekly and monthly reporting to ensure all Automated External Defibrillators are rescue-ready when needed.

 The also picked-up on their tri-service work in Cornwall, which is a collaboration between the police, fire and ambulance in response to emergency incidents. 

  Photo shows SWASFT staff collecting the Public Services Award at the ceremony in Manchester on Friday 26 October. 

Pictured (left to right): Rich Buckley, Acting Responder Manager; Kevin Dickens, Community Responder Officer for Gloucestershire; Steve Matthews, Assistant Community Responder Officer for Cornwall; Ryan Ware, Community Responder Officer for Devon; Katherine Lunk, Senior Community Responder Administrator; Kate Fisher, Assistant Community Responder Officer for Dorset; Sharon Kirwan, Assistant Community Responder Officer for Wiltshire.

This photo was taken by Mix Group.