Kent community first responders set to be allowed to carry and administer pain relief drug
A pain relief drug is hoped to help improve patient care by providing "effective and rapid pain relief"
South East Coast Ambulance Service have started a trial across Tangmere and Worthing which will see community first responders carry and administer a pain relief drug.
Pain relief drug, Penthrox, is hoped to help improve patient care by providing "effective and rapid pain relief".
During the trial, patient outcomes and operational impact will be closely monitored and evaluated to help the Trust understand how the drug can best support patients and responders at an incident.
Head of Community Resilience, Danny Dixon said: “The trial represents an important step forward in how SECAmb support our volunteers and the patients they care for.
"By equipping our CFRs with additional tools such as Penthrox, we can improve the immediate care patients receive while continuing to ensure safety, governance, and high clinical standards.”
Penthrox is a fast-acting pain relief medication that patients breathe in if they have experienced a traumatic injury which is currently carried by ambulance crews.
The trial will expand this to CFRs which will allow them to administer the medication if first on scene and improve patients comfort while awaiting further care.
Following the trial, further Trust-wide rollout to all volunteers will be considered to support patient care across our communities in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.