This website provides information about the Community First Responder scheme in Swallowfield Berkshire, part of the South Central Ambulance Charitable Trust (Charity no: 1049778). To find out more about what we do, meet the team, and find out how you can help, please follow the links at the top of the page.

Our scheme covers from Swallowfield to Spencers Wood, Shinfield to Farley Hill, Risley to Three Mile Cross. We occasionally get called to Arborfield as well.  The scheme is run by SCAS, but the first responder team is completely self funded, so we rely on fundraising and kind donations by local people and businesses to keep operational. If you can support us by making a donation, or by volunteering your time with us as a responder, we would be very happy to hear from you.

SPONSOR STEVE!

Steve Smith (from Scallywags catering) is running the Reading Half Marathon and needs sponsors!  Click here for more details.

JOIN US!

We are are looking for new volunteers to help provide cover during the week.  Please feel free to look through our website and if you are interested, then please call- we do not bite!

Misuse of the 999 service costs lives

40% of the 999 calls that are received are from patients who do not need to go to hospital. An ambulance attending a patient who could have used more appropriate healthcare services is not available to go to a person in a life-threatening emergency.

Just think – your life, or the life of someone you care about, could be put at risk.

On average, there is only one ambulance per 23,000 people during the day, and one per 35,000 people at night available in our region. So, make sure you need an ambulance before you call.

To help you understand when you should call for an ambulance or use an alternative healthcare provider, please consider the following:

For medical emergencies, such as

- Chest pain

- Severe breathing difficulty

- Severe blood loss

- Choking

- Blacking out

Dial 999 immediately

For other illnesses and injuries

• Call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for advice, alternatively visit their  website or the NHS Choices website
• Contact your GP or out-of-hours GP service for other illnesses. Check your symptoms at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
• Make your own way to your local A&E, minor injuries unit or walk-in centre for minor injuries
• Seek advice from your pharmacist for self-care

The South Central Ambulance Serice have set up their own dedicated misuse site at : http://www.999southcentral.co.uk/ which contains lots of information about how misuse can occurr, including a very good video.