Greater Manchester Firefighters May Become Medical First Responders

In an effort to speed up emergency responses and alleviate the strain on ambulance services, Greater Manchester firefighters may soon be deployed as first responders for certain medical incidents. Mayor Andy Burnham has proposed this initiative to improve emergency response times by enabling fire crews to handle medical calls, especially in cases like cardiac arrests where rapid intervention is critical.

Firefighters typically have shorter response times than ambulances, often arriving within 7 minutes and 30 seconds—vital when every second counts. "Through getting defibrillators more quickly to people who need them in Greater Manchester, we will save lives," Burnham said, emphasizing that the move isn’t a criticism of the ambulance service, but rather a complementary effort.

Expanding the Role of Firefighters

This concept isn’t entirely new; a 2015-2016 trial showed potential for firefighters to save dozens of lives annually and prevent serious neurological damage in some cases. During the trial, fire crews were dispatched to three to five cardiac arrest calls per day. Given the increased workload, Dave Pike of the Fire Brigades Union has voiced support for the proposal but highlighted the need for discussions around enhanced training and fair compensation for the firefighters taking on additional duties.

The head of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), Dave Russel, has been tasked with assessing the feasibility of this proposal by year’s end, with plans to collaborate closely with staff, trade unions, and regional partners. Though the cost remains unknown, Burnham indicated that public consultations and potential council tax adjustments might be considered to fund this initiative.