UK Firefighters To Step Up in COVID-19 Testing and Ambulance Support
Blazing New Trails in COVID Testing
Firefighters across the UK are set to play a crucial role in the fight against COVID-19. Thanks to a fresh deal between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), fire chiefs, and National Employers, trained firefighters will now be able to perform antigen swab tests. This includes testing for fellow fire and rescue workers, their families, and even the public if needed.
Driving Ambulances and Training Crew
The expanded agreement doesn’t stop there. Firefighters will also drive ambulances to non-emergency outpatient appointments and transport those needing urgent care. On top of that, they’ll start training non-emergency service personnel to handle ambulance driving — helping boost coronavirus response capacity.
Safety and Consent Front and Centre
This temporary move is strictly for the duration of the coronavirus emergency. It comes with mandatory PPE, thorough risk assessments, and a guarantee that no firefighter will be forced into these new duties if they’re unwilling.
Firefighters Already On The Frontline
- Delivering vital PPE and medical supplies to NHS and care workers
- Driving ambulances and transporting vulnerable people
- Assisting with body removals where required
These measures follow a previous agreement reached on 26 March as the pandemic intensifies.
FBU Calls For Urgent Testing
Matt Wrack, FBU General Secretary, said: “While the government is lagging behind its own schedule to deliver testing, the number of tests that have long been promised may require assistance from outside of the NHS and we are here to help.
“Firefighters are highly skilled and are able to take on new areas of work to assist in these extraordinary times – and this now includes carrying out antigen tests, driving ambulances to non-emergency incidents, and training other personnel to drive ambulances.
“We’ve raised our concerns about the government’s mishandling of coronavirus testing and the impact it is already having on frontline services. Fire and rescue personnel are now able to assist in the national testing which is so urgently required.”
The FBU also warned that nearly 3,000 fire and rescue staff were self-isolating due to COVID-19, underlining the urgent need for wider testing beyond just NHS and care workers.
