Andrew Barlow
I joined the Suffolk Ambulance Service in January1979 following careers in sales and as a psychiatric nurse.
I became aware and interested in Community First Responders after I qualified as a Paramedic and later took on the role of Community Paramedic at a local GP practice in Hadleigh.
As part of my job description it was required that I promoted community resuscitation, engaging with local schools and community groups and setting up Responder groups in areas where it may take an Ambulance a long while to reach.
I am now the Responder Manager for Norfolk and am involved in training and development of new schemes across Norfolk as well as managing the existing schemes.
I am also involved in working with the Fire Service and Police as part of Co response as well as working with many other voluntary agencies.
I feel that what Community First Responders do to support their local communities is fantastic.
It never ceases to amaze me that they give up their time for free, sometimes getting out of bed in the middle of the night to attend a call, assist in saving a persons life, offering support and comfort to the patient and their relatives, lend a listening ear, help to defuse an otherwise stressful situation and then after the ‘job’ is complete return to what they were doing before.
I really enjoy working with these people and over the period of time I have been involved I have set up over 60 + groups I have met lots of interesting people but more importantly I have made some really good friends.
