New electric response vehicle supports St John Ambulance co-responder pilot

A new electric response vehicle is set to support St John Ambulance volunteers taking part in a pioneering co-responder pilot with the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) in Norfolk.

The fully liveried BYD SEALION 7, provided on loan by electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, will be used by trained St John Ambulance volunteers responding to selected 999 calls, enabling them to reach patients quickly and begin treatment before ambulance crews arrive.

Launched earlier this year, the six-month pilot is exploring how volunteer co-responders can improve patient outcomes while helping to reduce pressure on frontline ambulance services.

“We are immensely grateful to BYD for loaning us a fully electric response car. Having a dedicated response vehicle is essential to ensuring our volunteers can reach patients quickly and begin care at the earliest possible moment. This scheme is about working in partnership with our NHS colleagues to provide additional support where it is most needed, helping to improve outcomes for patients while also easing pressure on frontline resources.”

Tom Willis, Head of Clinical Standards, St John Ambulance.

Dispatched by EEAST, volunteers attend a range of emergencies including cardiac arrests, strokes, breathing difficulties and serious injuries, where early intervention can be critical. Operating from a dedicated emergency response vehicle, they can begin assessment and treatment before NHS resources arrive. Where appropriate, patients can also be treated and safely discharged at the scene, avoiding the need for hospital conveyance.

Early results from the pilot have been encouraging. During its first two months, volunteers completed 33 shifts and responded to 142 patients, contributing more than 600 hours of volunteering. They were first on scene at more than 93% of incidents, arriving an average of 28 minutes before an NHS ambulance resource. Almost one in five patients were treated and safely discharged without the need for an ambulance, helping to free up emergency resources for higher acuity calls.

“Norfolk is a large and often very rural county, and co-responders provide invaluable support to EEAST in getting care to our patients quickly. During the pilot, St John Ambulance co-responders have delivered vital early interventions and made a real difference in situations where minutes count. We welcome the addition of their new response vehicle and hope they can continue to support EEAST and our patients.”

Tom Barker, Head of Co-Response, EEAST.

The addition of the fully electric response vehicle is expected to further strengthen the team’s operational capability while reducing running costs.

“The early results we are seeing are very encouraging. Our teams are reaching patients quickly, providing immediate care and, in some cases, resolving incidents without the need for an ambulance to attend. That is a positive outcome both for patients and for the wider health system.

“The loan of the BYD SEALION 7 will help us use donations for lifesaving interventions, rather than rising fuel costs, allowing us to run the scheme more efficiently and with greater impact.”

Tom Willis, Head of Clinical Standards, St John Ambulance.

The pilot will run for an initial six months, with the findings helping to inform whether similar co-responder schemes could be introduced in other parts of England.

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Find out more at The Emergency Services Show (16-17th September)

Fleet innovation, including the transition to electric and low-emission emergency vehicles, will be a key focus at The Emergency Services Show 2026. The new Fleet of the Future feature will bring together emergency service fleet professionals, vehicle manufacturers and technology providers to explore the latest developments in emergency vehicles, fleet management, telematics, charging infrastructure and decarbonisation.

Visitors will also be able to hear from sector experts on the dedicated Fleet of the Future Stage, with sessions covering topics including fleet resilience, operational performance and the transition to zero-emission response vehicles. Get your free ticket here.