The Volunteer Responder Scheme (VRS) is a new initiative where Specialist and Advanced Paramedics in Critical Care volunteer their time while off duty to bring their specialist knowledge and skills to help patients in need of the enhanced and critical care that our team are able to provide.

Three volunteers from within our team have commenced a twelve-month pilot trial to ascertain the feasibility of introducing a substantiated model of volunteer responding. The team will attend emergency calls outside of their normal working hours on a completely voluntary basis.

They are working closely with our core Devon Air Ambulance clinicians, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) colleagues, and volunteer doctors from the British Association for Immediate Care. As we develop the service, we hope to secure funding to be able to equip more of our team with the specialist equipment they need to respond on a voluntary basis.

The scheme was launched in May 2022. Below is the data for 2023.

Read more about the Volunteer Responder Scheme