University of Hertfordshire students to join frontline local emergency response scheme

Students from the University of Hertfordshire will help deliver potentially life-saving treatment to critically ill and injured patients under a new emergency response partnership launching in the county.

The University has teamed up with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Critical Care Service (BHECCS) to create a new team of trained student volunteers who will respond to the most serious 999 calls alongside the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST).

A dedicated blue-light Emergency Responder car will be based at the University’s College Lane campus, increasing the number of responders available across the county, with successful student volunteers expected to begin attending emergencies in early 2027.

BHECCS Emergency Responders are dispatched to high-priority incidents where they can provide critical treatment before an ambulance arrives. Since the pilot scheme was launched with EEAST in 2024, volunteers have responded to nearly 3,000 calls and, on average, arrive around seven minutes ahead of an ambulance.

Applications open on 19 October 2026 for all suitably qualified Herts students interested in joining the first cohort. Applicants will complete the same selection and assessment process as other BHECCS volunteers and must hold a Level 4 First Response Emergency Care (FREC) qualification.

Alexandra Ulrich, Principal Lecturer and Programme Lead for Paramedic Science, said the partnership with BHECCS marked an exciting new chapter for paramedic science at the University, and was a great opportunity for both students and the local community.

“When someone is critically ill or injured, every minute matters,” she said. “Reaching patients before an ambulance arrives means emergency responders can begin vital treatment at the earliest possible opportunity.

“The partnership also creates a unique opportunity for any suitably trained students to gain valuable frontline experience that will enhance their learning and support their development as future clinicians.”

The development further strengths the University's position as a leader in paramedic education. In 1998, it became the first in the UK to offer a paramedic science degree and, in 2025, it launched one of the UK’s earliest pre-registration paramedic science master’s degree courses.

The student cohort will join highly trained BHECCS volunteers from a range of professional backgrounds. Together, they will operate an additional Emergency Responder car across Hertfordshire, supporting the ambulance service in reaching patients facing life-threatening emergencies.

BHECCS Emergency Responder Operations Manager Tom Ward said:

“This partnership will put another Emergency Responder vehicle on the road and extend the reach of our services across Hertfordshire. Our responders are often able to reach critically ill patients several minutes before an ambulance, providing immediate treatment when it is needed most.

“The student volunteers will complete the same rigorous selection and assessment process as our other responders, ensuring they are fully prepared to support patients safely and effectively.”

Head of the University’s Allied Health and Social Work Department, Dr Konstantinos Papadopoulos, said:

"This partnership with BHECCS is an excellent example of what can be achieved when higher education and healthcare providers work together. By creating opportunities for students to learn alongside experienced professionals in real-world emergency care settings, we are helping to develop the future workforce while supporting high-quality care for our local communities."

Tom Barker, Head of Co-Response at EEAST, added:

"Our volunteer Emergency Responders are making a huge difference every day, responding to 999 calls across the region, getting vital help to patients in their communities. Having this extra Emergency Responder vehicle based at the University of Hertfordshire's Hatfield campus will help us reach patients quickly when every second counts and will make a real difference to our responders and the communities they support.”

Herts Chief Marketing Officer Stephi Brett-Lee, who springboarded the partnership initiative, added:  

“Providing career-focused education that prepares students for the realities of professional practice is central to our mission at the University of Hertfordshire. We want our graduates to leave not only with academic knowledge, but with the confidence, experience and skills to thrive from day one.

“In healthcare professions such as paramedics, that preparation is especially important. Future clinicians may one day find themselves making critical decisions where lives are at stake. Experiences like this help students develop the practical skills and professional judgement that cannot be learned from a textbook alone.

“We're proud to be working with BHECCS and EEAST to create an opportunity that supports both student development and the wider community.”

Learn more about the University's undergraduate paramedic science course and pre-registration master's paramedic science course