Stroke patients need faster ambulance response

Secamb's chief executive told BBC Radio Sussex he had personal experience of caring for someone who had had a stroke

The South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) could respond faster to patients suffering a stroke, according to its chief executive.

Strokes are classified as a 'category 2 emergency' and paramedics should arrive in an average time of 30 minutes, which is an increase from the previous target of 18 minutes.

In figures released on Thursday by Secamb, its average response time in December was 32 minutes 12 seconds compared with a national average of 47 minutes. Across 2024 Secamb averaged 29 minutes.

The trust's chief executive Simon Weldon said he had personal experience of caring for someone who had a stroke and added: "From a personal point of view I want us to be better."

Speaking on BBC Radio Sussex on Thursday, Mr Weldon recognised that having a stroke is "life-threatening" and said he would like to see the trust get closer to the previous target of 18 minutes to reach a stroke patient.

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, killing brain cells, said charity Stroke Association.

"How do we make sure that the demand that doesn't need an ambulance gets their needs met without an ambulance so we can do better for those patients who do have a stroke?" added Mr Weldon.

"But from a personal point of view, having cared for somebody who had a stroke and watch that happen, I want to be better."

'Endangering lives'

Stroke Association has said increasing demand on health and social care services "has led to an overstretched, under-resourced system which is causing severe delays in response times and handovers at hospital".

A spokesperson added: "This is endangering lives and recovery."

Secamb has more than 4,000 staff working across 110 sites in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Almost 90 per cent of its workforce is made up of operational staff caring for patients either face to face, or over the phone at emergency dispatch centres where they receive 999 calls.