Three Ambulance Staff Sacked Over Unsafe Driving Incidents

Three ambulance staff have been dismissed following two separate incidents involving unsafe driving, South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) has confirmed.

The NHS trust, which serves Sussex, Surrey, Kent and north-east Hampshire, said the sackings followed incidents reported through an anonymous safety reporting system introduced after the death of paramedic Alice Clark in 2022.

One of the incidents involved what SECAmb described as "irresponsible driving on a motorway", while the second involved two members of staff allegedly driving unsafely while returning to base.

The trust said one of those dismissed has lodged an appeal.

SECAmb's driving standards manager, Huw Watts, said:

"The safety of our patients, colleagues and the public is non-negotiable.

"Where standards fall short, we will take decisive action."

The trust said it has strengthened its approach to driving standards in recent years through additional training and staff engagement initiatives.

The changes follow the death of 21-year-old paramedic Alice Clark, who was killed when an ambulance collided with a cement lorry on the A21 near Tonbridge in 2022.

The driver of the ambulance later admitted causing her death by careless and inconsiderate driving and received a suspended prison sentence.

Speaking about the latest dismissals, Mr Watts said Alice's death continues to influence the organisation's approach to safety.

"We are determined to ensure that her legacy drives real, lasting change by supporting our staff, strengthening accountability and making it clear that speaking up and driving safely are essential to the care we provide every day," he said.