999 Calls.
Student Doctors.
Here for Cambridge.

University of Cambridge student doctors, responding to 999 emergencies across Cambridge as Community First Responders.Trained and dispatched by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, we attend a range of emergencies including cardiac arrests, chest pain, respiratory distress and seizures. We work alongside local ambulance crews to provide the best possible care for our community.


OUR IMPACT —

Making a difference,
from day one.

Since April 2026
0
Active student volunteers
0
Hours volunteered
0
First on scene
0
Total responders
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
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Live Statistics
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WHAT WE DO —

Real emergencies.
Early support.

The Cambridge First Responder Society is a group of trained volunteers (all student doctors at the University of Cambridge) serving as an additional resource to the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST). Operating a dedicated Community First Responder vehicle based at Cambridge, equipped with specialist medical kit, our volunteers attend 999 calls across Cambridge and the surrounding area, providing emergency care in the critical minutes before an ambulance arrives.Our volunteers are trained and governed entirely by EEAST, working strictly within an established scope of practice and acting on behalf of the ambulance service at all times. This is an entirely extracurricular activity, separate from our studies, and undertaken voluntarily in our own time. By combining the clinical foundation of Cambridge student doctors with the training, governance and operational expertise of EEAST, the initiative creates a unique opportunity to deliver meaningful support to patients and the ambulance service whilst helping develop the next generation of healthcare professionals.

We work closely with local ambulance crews on every call, ensuring the best possible care for every patient. Our volunteers bring a strong clinical foundation to their role, and we are proud of the relationships we are building with the crews we work alongside.While emergency response remains at the heart of what we do, we believe that saving lives starts long before a 999 call is made. We are always exploring opportunities to promote lifesaving skills across Cambridge, collaborating with local schools, charities, community groups, organisations, residents, and University students and staff to help create a community that is more confident, prepared and ready to act when it matters most.

Adam

Responder


"Cambridge has hundreds of motivated student doctors who want to contribute to the community they live and study in. Through our collaboration with EEAST, we have been able to channel that enthusiasm into something genuinely meaningful for patients.Every volunteer gives their time freely to support the ambulance service and the people of Cambridge during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.For patients, having a trained responder arrive in those first critical minutes; able to assess, act and reassure before the ambulance gets there can make a real difference to what happens next.For our volunteers, helping someone is a profound privilege. It is not always about dramatic interventions. Often it is simply being there at the right time, in the right way. In someone's home, on a dark street, in the uncertain minutes before the ambulance arrives. That is where the real patient journey begins, long before hospital walls, and that exposure is shaping our volunteers into more grounded, more capable future clinicians.I am proud of what we have built. But I am far prouder of every student who gives their time, volunteers, responds to the call, and makes a difference to patients who need them most."

Arya

Responder


"One of the things I have learned as a First Responder is that the first person on scene is often not a healthcare professional. It's a friend, a colleague, a teacher, a neighbour or a passer-by.That is why I believe our role extends beyond responding to 999 calls. Every person who learns CPR, every school that hosts a first aid session, and every organisation that installs a defibrillator has the potential to save a life.We may be student doctors, but we are also part of the Cambridge community. If we can help more people feel confident enough to act in an emergency, that impact could reach far beyond anything we achieve on a shift."

Tom

Doctor, Previous Responder


"Volunteering as a CFR through medical school helped prepare me for assessing and managing sick patients as a foundation doctor, and helped develop my interest in a career in both anaesthetics and pre-hospital emergency medicine."

Jess

Responder


"I have absolutely loved volunteering with the Student CFR scheme so far. I have learnt so much from all the ambulance staff that I have met and I’m really proud of the confidence that I have gained. It is a real privilege to be involved in providing care for patients in the community and helping people when they need it most.Being able to arrive on scene early can help calm the patient and their loved ones when they are panicking, even if it’s just through some small talk and checking their observations are ok. As well as this, we can rapidly respond and do a quick assessment to identify those patients who need immediate help from an ambulance and keep them stable whilst they await the ambulance.All the paramedics and EMTs that I have met whilst volunteering have been very eager to teach and it’s an incredibly useful experience as a student doctor to understand how pre-hospital medicine works. It is also useful that we know how hospitals work as we are able to provide some clarity and explanation to patients who might go into hospital, and we can help prepare them for what might happen when they arrive at A&E."

C.D.

Responder


"Pre-hospital care is almost invisible in medical school. This initiative changes that. You see the full patient journey from the moment a 999 call is made, arriving before the ambulance, assessing someone in their own home, initiating their care, and staying with them until backup arrives.I want to work in acute care, and nothing has prepared me for that path more than this. The clinical skills you already have as a student doctor transfer directly, but they are tested differently. You are making decisions with limited information, in unfamiliar environments, with a patient who is frightened and a family looking to you for reassurance. The training we receive from EEAST equips us to handle exactly that, and doing it well does not just make you a better clinician. It makes a real, immediate difference to the person in front of you.What strikes me most is how much earlier we arrive in the patient journey. In medical school, you meet patients once they are already in hospital, already assessed, already on a pathway.Out here, you are the beginning of that pathway. You are making decisions in someone's living room, with limited information, and what you do in those minutes genuinely shapes what happens next.""

Freddie

Responder


"When a 999 call is made, the first few minutes are often the most critical. Someone may be seriously unwell and alone, while help is on its way but not yet there. Every second of that wait matters. In cardiac arrest, survival falls by around 10% for every minute without defibrillation and chest compressions. In a stroke, those minutes are the difference between recovery and permanent damage. That is someone's parent, partner, or neighbour, losing their chance with every passing minute. The gap between the call being made and a conveying ambulance arriving is where we operate.What makes student doctors particularly well placed for this role is not just the EEAST training we receive but the clinical foundation we already bring from our medical training. We assess, we act, and we hand over a clear clinical picture that means the crew can move faster and make better decisions from the moment we arrive. That is something you carry with you for the rest of your career.Cambridge is a city with world class medicine happening. Most residents never see any of it. This initiative changes that in a small but meaningful way, putting clinically trained people into the community, in people's homes, at the moments when it matters most. That is not an abstract benefit. It is a faster response, a better assessment, and a patient who is not alone during one of the worst moments of their life."

Ola and Emma

Responders


"On our first shift together, we were on standby waiting to respond to a 999 call when members of the public approached us about an elderly woman who had fallen nearby and sustained a head injury.We made our way to her immediately, informed the ambulance control room, and were able to begin caring for her within minutes. We dressed her wound, carried out an initial assessment, and provided reassurance to both the patient and family while further help was on the way.We remained with them until the ambulance crew arrived and took over care. It was a powerful reminder that emergencies do not always begin with a dispatch, and that sometimes simply being in the right place at the right time can make a meaningful difference."

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BUILT FOR IMPACT —

Cambridge Response Map
Hover over each pin to explore what our volunteers do.

Cardiac arrest

First on scene

Started immediate CPR, applied the defibrillator, delivered a shock when advised, and maintained airway until the ambulance crew arrived.

Chest pain

First on scene

Completed a focused assessment, recorded key observations, identified red flags, and provided calm reassurance while awaiting the ambulance crew.

Respiratory distress

First on scene

Assessed airway and breathing, monitored oxygen saturations, supported the patient’s positioning, and escalated concerns clearly to the incoming crew.

Stroke

First on scene

Recognised possible stroke, completed a FAST assessment, checked blood glucose, established symptom onset time, and prepared a clear handover for urgent conveyance.

Seizure

First on scene

Protected the patient from injury, managed their airway position, monitored recovery, recorded seizure timing, and reassured relatives during the post-ictal phase.

Fall

First on scene

Assessed for head injury and bleeding, dressed wounds, and kept the patient comfortable.

Unconscious patient

Supporting EEAST

Supported the crew by monitoring observations, gathering collateral history, reassuring distressed family members, and helping maintain a safe scene.

Allergic reaction

Supporting EEAST

Supported ongoing care with crew, provided reassurance to family members.

Breathing difficulty

First on scene

Patient history and observation taken. Recognised likely asthma attack, administered high-flow oxygen and escalated findings promptly.

Unwell patient

First on scene

Identified signs of serious illness, including fever, tachycardia and confusion, completed an ABCDE assessment, and escalated urgently for backup.

Chest pain

Supporting EEAST

Continued serial observations, supported patient monitoring, and assisted with preparation for transfer.

Breathing difficulty

Supporting EEAST

Supported the paramedic crew on scene.

Palpitations

First on scene

Took a focused history, recorded a full set of observations, and reassured the patient throughout the assessment.

Hypoglycaemia

First on scene

Confirmed low blood glucose in a conscious patient, administered oral glucose gel, repeated BM monitoring, and observed clinical recovery before handover.

Major haemorrhage

First on scene

Controlled severe bleeding with direct pressure and haemorrhage kit, monitored for shock, and maintained life-saving intervention until ambulance arrival.

Collapse

First on scene

Found the patient collapsed, completed an ABCDE assessment, recorded observations, identified immediate risks, and escalated while monitoring for deterioration.

Reduced consciousness

First on scene

Assessed airway, breathing and consciousness level, used appropriate airway support within CFR scope, monitored oxygen saturations, and delivered a structured SBAR handover.

Illustrative examples only.
🏛️
Built to last
A student-led society with formal governance and institutional continuity.
🌍
First of its kind
The first structured initiative bringing student doctors into pre-hospital emergency response in the East of England.
🎓
Registered University of Cambridge Society
Formally registered with Cambridge Students' Union and the University's Junior Proctors' Office.
🚑
Clinically governed by EEAST
Trained, assessed, dispatched and supported by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust at all times.
👨‍⚕️
Student doctors
Combining a strong clinical foundation with EEAST training; bringing earlier support and real-world experience to every call.
💰
Independently funded
Running costs, our vehicle and additional equipment are supported entirely through donations and fundraising.
🏛️
Built to last
Formal governance, succession planning and institutional continuity — designed to serve Cambridge long after any cohort graduates.
🌍
First of its kind
The first structured initiative bringing student doctors into pre-hospital emergency response in the East of England.
🎓
Registered University of Cambridge Society
Formally registered with Cambridge Students' Union and the University's Junior Proctors' Office.
🚑
Clinically governed by EEAST
Trained, assessed, dispatched and supported by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust at all times.
👨‍⚕️
Student doctors
Combining a strong clinical foundation with EEAST training — bringing earlier support and real-world experience to every call.
💰
Independently funded
Running costs, our vehicle and additional equipment are supported entirely through donations and fundraising.
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OUR PEOPLE—

Behind the Response

The volunteers, stories and moments that define what we do.

Our Responders: Every shift, Cambridge student doctors give their time to respond to 999 calls across the city on behalf of EEAST. They assess, treat and support patients in the critical minutes before an ambulance arrives — entirely voluntarily alongside their studies.Our Society: Registered with the Cambridge Students' Union and University's Junior Proctors' Office, the First Responder Society is more than a volunteering initiative. It is a community of student doctors who share a commitment to pre-hospital care and to giving something back to the city they call home. Beyond the shifts, we run regular training sessions to keep skills sharp, social events to bring the team together, and a support structure that ensures no volunteer ever feels alone. For student doctors with an interest in acute and pre-hospital medicine, it is a hub, a place to learn, connect and grow alongside people who share the same values.

Our Community: We believe our responsibility extends beyond the 999 call. We attend community events, promote public access defibrillators across Cambridge, and deliver Basic Life Support awareness to anyone who wants to learn. Bystander CPR saves lives. We want more people to feel confident enough to act.In Schools: We visit local schools to talk honestly about medicine, healthcare careers and what it actually looks like to respond to a real emergency as a First Responder. If you are interested in a visit, whether for a careers event, a PSHE session or a BLS workshop, we would love to hear from you.

Whether you're interested in arranging a school visit, inviting us to a community event, supporting our work, or simply learning more about the work we do, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with us!


OUR STORY —

Built from the ground up,
for Cambridge.

Cambridge has long been home to hundreds of student doctors, living and training in the city. Until recently, there was no structured way for them to contribute to emergency care in their community.In 2024, a student on the Cambridge Graduate Course in Medicine approached EEAST with a proposal: to create a dedicated Community First Responder pathway for University of Cambridge student doctors. EEAST welcomed the idea, and work began to build it properly.Student doctors have a strong clinical foundation, are locally based, and genuinely motivated to give back to the community they call home for many years. Through this initiative, they volunteer on behalf of EEAST, attending 999 calls across Cambridge and the surrounding area. Within a clearly defined scope of practice, they assess patients, initiate early management, and provide critical support before ambulance crews arrive.The First Responder Society provides the structure, continuity and community that allows Cambridge student doctors to contribute meaningfully to emergency care year after year.In mid-2026, the first cohort of 16 student doctors completed their training and became operational. Within their first month, they contributed over 300 hours of volunteer response time, an early indication of both the demand for this kind of support and the commitment of those involved.The Society is now expanding, with growing student interest and involvement. Our focus is on building a sustainable, high-quality model that can support more patients across Cambridge, while maintaining close collaboration with EEAST and the University.Our student volunteers participate as part of the Cambridge Student Community First Responder (SCFR) Scheme. Founded in 2015 in memory of Douglas Gray Stephens, the SCFR scheme has a proud history of community volunteers supporting EEAST and the people of Cambridge.

The SCFR Scheme in 2015

First Student Committee

Freddie (Secretary), Ria (Training Officer), Caitlin (Welfare Officer),
Adam (President), Sam (Treasurer), Arya (Vice-President)

First Student Cohort in 2026

Community Impact
Why it matters
In an emergency, every minute may matter
Student doctors bridge the gap before ambulance crews arrive
Earlier assessment, treatment and care for patients
Support for families during some of their most difficult moments
A clinical picture ready for ambulance crews on arrival
Additional frontline capacity for the ambulance service
Promoting CPR, defibrillator awareness and lifesaving skills
The first initiative of its kind in the East of England
Volunteering
As a Responder
Respond to real 999 emergencies across Cambridge
Provide immediate care within a defined scope of practice
Work closely with ambulance crews on every call
See the patient journey before hospital admission
Develop clinical confidence in real situations
Give back to the city you call home
Entirely extracurricular, separate from your studies
Better future NHS clinicians through real responsibility

JOIN US —

Recruitment

We are recruiting University of Cambridge student doctors (Years 2–5) to join our growing scheme. Read below to find out more, and register your interest when ready.Recruitment is currently closed, but we are building our next intake list.
Join the interest list here to hear first when applications reopen.

Recruitment
When is the next recruitment cycle?+

Our current recruitment cycle is closed. Please join our interest list and follow us on Instagram for updates on the next intake.

Who can apply?+

Recruitment is currently focused on University of Cambridge student doctors in Years 2–5 who have completed MedST 1A and are not in their final year at the point of recruitment.

A full clean UK driving licence is preferred but not essential. Non-drivers are welcome to apply.

What are we looking for?+

We are looking for students who are reliable, calm, professional, and genuinely motivated to support patients and ambulance crews.

Previous first aid or pre-hospital experience is helpful, but not essential.

How does recruitment work?+
  1. 1. Registration of interest via the online form
  2. 2. Review and shortlisting — based on motivation, suitability, and understanding of the role
  3. 3. EEAST interview
  4. 4. Offer and onboarding — DBS and occupational health checks, references, and mandatory online training
  5. 5. Training day

n.b. Successful candidates must attend the EEAST training day.

The Role
What does the role involve?+

Once trained, responders sign up for shifts and respond to 999 calls when dispatched by EEAST.

There are no fixed shifts, participation is entirely flexible and fits around your schedule. Responders usually work in pairs, using the scheme's dedicated response vehicle, and provide early assessment and care within an EEAST-defined scope of practice until an ambulance crew arrives.

You always operate within your scope of practice and on behalf of the ambulance service.

What is the time commitment?+

We expect around 192 responding hours per year, typically two to three self-booked shifts per month.

Shifts are flexible and arranged around your availability. Being on call does not mean you are constantly attending emergencies, much of the time you are simply available and waiting to be dispatched. You are free to study or carry on with other activities, as long as you remain ready to respond when needed.

This flexibility helps fit volunteering around your studies and other commitments, while still making a meaningful contribution.

Do I need to drive?+

No. Non-drivers are very welcome and can fully participate as part of a crew.

Please note that the response vehicle does not operate under blue light exemptions — all road traffic regulations apply at all times and the use of audible or visual devices, i.e. blue lights/sirens is strictly prohibited.

Why get involved?+

Joining the scheme offers more than clinical exposure:

  • - Be part of a supportive, tight-knit team of student doctors
  • - Gain first-hand insight into pre-hospital emergency care
  • - Develop clinical confidence, leadership, and teamwork in a real operational setting
  • - Make a direct contribution to patient care and the local community

This is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully while developing skills that are difficult to gain elsewhere.

Other Questions
Is this manageable alongside medical school?+

Yes, if you manage your time well. Shifts are self-booked and flexible.

During quieter periods on shift, you remain available but can study or rest while waiting to be called. During busy academic periods such as exams, many volunteers reduce their hours.

We expect consistency over time, not intensity in short bursts.

I am in my final year. Can I apply?+

It is unlikely we recruit students within 12 months of completing their course. However, existing volunteers may continue into their final year subject to EEAST requirements.

I hold a pre-hospital qualification. Does this help?+

If you hold FREC 3, FREC 4, or a similar qualification, please let us know. This may support your application, though final decisions rest with EEAST.

Do other universities have similar schemes?+

Yes. Nottingham, Leeds, Newcastle, and many others run successful schemes. Cambridge's scheme is the first initiative of its kind in the East of England.

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SUPPORT US —

Help Us, Help You

We operate as a financially independent initiative. While EEAST provides us training and the loan of essential medical equipment, most of the running costs, including our response vehicle and additional equipment, depends entirely on the generosity of people like you.Without your support, we cannot keep our volunteers on the road, maintain the standard of care our patients deserve, or grow to reach more patients around Cambridge. Every contribution, however small, makes a direct difference.

Donations channelled through the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust are held within the EEAST Charitable Funds — registered charity number 1047987.

❤️
You keep us responding.
🧡
Make a donation
One-off or regular giving.
🏢
Sponsorship
Support the scheme as an organisation.
🏫
Schools & Community
Invite us for a talk on emergency response.
🎉
Fundraising Events
Running an event or raising for a cause?

To donate or discuss supporting the scheme, please get in touch: [email protected]

What your support funds
🚨
We are currently fundraising for a new response vehicle

Our current vehicle is due for replacement. A new vehicle means we can continue responding to patients across Cambridge. This is our most urgent current need — and every contribution brings us closer.

🚑
Response vehicle
A dedicated CFR vehicle is the foundation of what we do. Without it, we cannot reach patients.
🦺
Volunteer uniforms
Every new responder needs a full set of uniform.
🩺
Equipment
Beyond what EEAST loans, we maintain our own kit — bags, spare equipment and everyday essentials that wear out with use.
📚
CPD training
Your support enables us to provide the highest standard of ongoing training, keeping our responders confident and ready.

OUR NEWS —

Press / Media

Explore our media coverage via the links below:

For media enquiries please contact us below.


CONTACT US —

Get in Touch

Whether you have a question about joining, want to support the scheme, or just want to know more, we would love to hear from you.Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @camfirstresponders
For the latest news and updates follow us on our social media accounts.

Coming soon...

Committee:

Responders:


Cohorts:

April 2026

Coming soon...