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Community First Responders (CFRs) in Sussex are taking South East Coast Ambulance Service’s latest innovation off-road, using specially equipped e-bikes to reach patients more quickly in hard-to-access areas.
Three e-bikes have been kitted out with life-saving medical equipment as part of a new pilot project designed to cut response times and improve accessibility, particularly along the Manhood Peninsula, a large coastal area south of Chichester that attracts thousands of visitors in the warmer months.
The idea came from ambulance technician and CFR team leader Frank Doel, who first proposed the concept several years ago. “It’s so good to finally see it realised,” he said. “It should really help us make a difference.”
Frank first tested the e-bike concept himself, timing response routes by car and bike to compare results. “It gets very busy in the summer. the roads here are heavy with traffic,” he said.
“With a bike, it took me 12 to 15 minutes. In a car, it was half an hour or more. From an emergency response point of view, if you’ve got a good cycle route area, why not take advantage of it?”
After pitching the idea at SECAmb’s Innovator’s Den, a programme that supports staff-led innovation, Frank secured funding to develop a prototype. The e-bikes have since been adapted for balance and safety, with panniers designed to carry lightweight carbon fibre oxygen cylinders on either side to distribute weight evenly.
Local councils have backed the initiative, which will see the new e-Cycle Response Unit (e-CRU) operate mainly across the Manhood Peninsula, with some shifts in Chichester. The pilot will run through to summer next year to assess its impact.
“It feels amazing to see the project finally come to fruition,” said Frank. “It’s a huge achievement.”
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