NEAS has launched a summer safety campaign featuring real stories and advice from paramedics, emergency call handlers, specialist paramedics and Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) colleagues.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of seasonal risks and educate children, teenagers and young people about making safer choices.

Every summer, ambulance crews respond to preventable emergencies linked to hot weather, open water and outdoor activities, including cycling and the use of scooters and other wheeled transport.

New figures highlight the scale of demand across the North East between June and September 2025. During that period, NEAS responded to:

• 1,105 bike-related incidents, including 343 in August alone
• 443 heat-related incidents, with July figures more than doubling compared to July 2024 (169 in July 2025 compared to 76 in 2024)
• Seven water-related incidents, which can rapidly become life-threatening through accidental drowning, cold-water shock and people getting into difficulty in the water
• Compared to 2024, bike-related incidents increased across the summer months, while heat-related incidents rose sharply during periods of hot weather.

Stu Holliday, Strategic Head of EPRR (Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response), said: “Every summer, we see an increase in incidents linked to hot weather, open water and outdoor activities. Many of the emergencies we attend could be prevented through greater awareness and a few simple precautions.

“The impact of summer weather is already being felt across our region. In June 2026 alone, NEAS responded to 329 bike-related incidents, 205 heat-related incidents and four water-related incidents.

“We work closely with our partners HM Coastguard, RNLI, fire and rescue services, police, mountain rescue teams, Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) and local hospital trusts to keep communities safe across the region, but it’s important that the public consider what they can do too.

“That’s why we’re launching this campaign, to help people make informed choices, stay safe and enjoy the summer. A key focus is helping young people understand the risks and make safer choices that could prevent serious injuries and save lives.”

Hot weather

High temperatures can cause heat exhaustion, dehydration and worsening of existing health conditions. Children, older people and those with long-term illnesses can be particularly vulnerable.

Stephanie McIntyre, paramedic, said: “During hot weather, we regularly attend people who are unwell due to heat exhaustion and dehydration, and many are surprised by how quickly it can happen.

“Simple steps such as drinking plenty of water, taking breaks in the shade and avoiding activity during the hottest part of the day can make a real difference.

“It’s also important to recognise the signs of heat stroke, which is a life-threatening emergency. If someone becomes confused, collapses, or has a very high temperature, call 999 immediately.”

Barisuka Johnson, clinician, added: “Hot weather can affect anyone, but older people, young children and those with long-term health conditions are often at greater risk.

“Having essentials such as water, sunscreen and basic first aid supplies available at home and in your car can help you deal with minor issues before they become more serious.

“It’s also important to use the right service when you need care. For urgent advice, NHS 111 can help, while 999 should only be used in a life-threatening emergency.”

Water safety

Water safety is a key focus of the campaign as more people visit beaches, rivers and lakes during warm weather. While open water can appear safe, it often remains dangerously cold, increasing the risk of cold-water shock, drowning and people finding themselves in difficulty.

HART Team Leader Esme Bellerby said: “On warm days, we see more incidents involving open water. Rivers, lakes and the sea can look safe, but they’re often much colder and more dangerous than people realise.

“Sadly, we continue to see tragic incidents across the country, particularly involving younger people getting into difficulty in the water. That’s why it’s so important that we educate children and teenagers about the risks and help them understand how quickly things can go wrong.

“Think carefully before entering open water, look out for one another and make safer choices and remember to float to live. If someone is in difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

Road and bike safety

Road and bike safety is another key focus, with increased numbers of cyclists, e-bike users, scooter riders and motorcyclists on the roads during summer.

Specialist paramedic, Thomas Mortillaro said: “During the summer, we see more serious injuries involving bikes, e-bikes and other wheeled activities. Too often, traumatic head injuries could have been reduced by wearing a helmet.

“What stays with me is the domino effect these incidents can have. Life-changing injuries don’t just affect the patient – they have a huge impact on families, friends and the emergency responders involved.

“Whether you’re on a bike or behind the wheel, making safe choices on the road and looking out for others can make all the difference.”

The campaign encourages people to make safer choices, look after themselves and those around them, and reduce the risk of needing emergency care.

The service is urging families to find out more about summer safety advice on the NEAS website: NEAS Summer Safety Advice

Top tips include:

• Avoid being active during the hottest part of the day and take breaks in the shade
• Keep indoor spaces cool
• Drink water regularly
• Check in on older relatives, neighbours and vulnerable people
• Avoid swimming in rivers, lakes and reservoirs
• Wear helmets when cycling and taking part in wheeled activities
• Small actions can save lives. By taking simple steps to stay safe and well this summer, you can help ensure ambulances are available for those who need them most.

North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) covers 3,230 square miles across the North East region. It employs more than 3,600 staff and serves a population of 2.7 million people by handling all NHS 111 and 999 calls for the region, operating patient transport and ambulance response services, delivering training for communities and commercial audiences and providing medical support cover at events.

NEAS has 67 properties including 61 stations, three emergency operations centres, and three training and education centres. It operates around 147 double crewed vehicles and 173 patient transport vehicles as well as 56 emergency response cars, used by specialist paramedics, advanced practitioners and officers, and a fleet of support vehicles including driver training and specialist vehicles for the Hazardous Area Response Team.

In 2025/26, the service answered more than 1.475m emergency 999 and NHS 111 calls, with more than 298,000 patients taken to hospital, more than 56,000 patients treated and discharged over the phone and more than 143,800 patients treated and discharged at home. It responded to more than 40,444 C1 serious and life-threatening incidents in an average time of 6 minutes 17 seconds.

Source: https://media.neas.nhs.uk/news/small-actions-can-save-livesnorth-eastambulance-service-urges-public-to-stay-safe-this-summer

Sir Jim Mackey today said that staff looking at medical records for personal reasons or out of curiosity was “wholly unacceptable, a disgraceful breach of patient trust and against the law”, and would not be tolerated by the NHS.

Sir Jim’s warning comes as the NHS today launched a new campaign to remind staff what constitutes unlawful access, the potential impacts on patients and what the consequences could be for their career.

The campaign follows several incidents of staff being dismissed from their posts after accessing the medical records of victims of high-profile crimes, including the Nottingham attacks.

NHS England has today published new guidance for all NHS organisations on preventing and monitoring unauthorised access, as well as their responsibilities in investigating and reporting it.

The guidance sets out the different types of unlawful access, and makes clear that where it occurs, employers may report it to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and police – both of whom have the power to pursue a criminal prosecution – as well as to professional regulators, which can end a career.

It also provides guidance for how monitoring and regular audits can be conducted depending on the IT systems organisations have in place. For example, some newer electronic patient record systems may be able to identify unlawful access in ‘real’ time, with the capability to set up alert ‘flags’ to identify suspicious activity.

Employers are being asked to ensure appropriate technical controls are in place for their organisation to protect people’s information without stopping staff from doing their jobs – such as ‘role-based’ controls – and minimising access to very sensitive information to only those that must see it to fulfil their role, and multi-factor authentication.

NHS England’s new campaign launches today with screensavers on staff computers and posters around NHS organisations urging staff to protect patients’ privacy, respect confidentiality, and not to ‘let curiosity kill your career.’

Sir Jim Mackey, NHS Chief Executive, said: “Patients must be able to trust that their personal information is kept confidential by the NHS – any instance of staff looking at records without a valid reason is wholly unacceptable, a disgraceful breach of patients’ trust and against the law.

“While the majority of NHS staff handle patient information responsibly and professionally every day, it’s been incredibly worrying that a small number have chosen to undermine the trust that patients place in them and caused such additional distress for families who deserved so much better from us.

“Anyone considering accessing records for personal reasons or out of curiosity should be in no doubt they could be putting their career at risk, and may face disciplinary action, dismissal, referral to the regulator or even time in prison.

“We will not tolerate a culture of curiosity when it comes to patient confidentiality – there is no place in the NHS for those who misuse patient information and together we will take firm action to prevent and monitor unlawful access, and to act decisively when that occurs.”

Paul Arnold, ICO Chief Executive Officer, said: “When people seek medical care, they share some of their most sensitive personal information in the trust that it will be kept safe. Unauthorised access to those records is not just a breach of data protection law — it is a betrayal of that trust, with real and lasting consequences for patients and their families.

“Having the ability to view a record is not the same as having a legitimate need to do so. Every member of staff has a personal responsibility to respect that boundary, and every patient has a right to expect that they will. Staff who breach that trust face serious consequences: loss of employment, removal of professional accreditation and criminal prosecution.”

Source: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2026/07/snooping-staff-face-sack-prison-inappropriate-access-patient-data/

Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria is looking for people to help at outreach events in local communities in the borough as well as in Sunderland and South Tees.

They will share simple information about kidney health and help people find out how to get checked.

WHAT IS CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE?

Chronic kidney disease, also called CKD, is a long-term condition that affects how well the kidneys work. Around 1 in 10 people have CKD. Many people do not know they have it because it often has no symptoms at first. Finding kidney disease early can help people get the support and treatment they need.

WHAT WILL I DO AS A VOLUNTEER?

You will help at outreach events in local communities. This may include:

• talking to people about kidney health
• sharing simple information about CKD
• explaining who may be more likely to have kidney disease
• helping people find out how to get checked
• sharing resources and helping people find support

There may also be opportunities to raise awareness within your own community outside of organised events.

WHAT HAPPENS AT A KIDNEY HEALTH CHECK?

A kidney health check looks for common signs of kidney disease. This may include:

• checking blood pressure
• talking about things that can affect heart and kidney health
• a simple urine test that can show early signs of kidney disease

WHAT CAN HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS HELP WITH?

Healthcare professionals can also apply. If you are a healthcare professional, you may also:

• support urine testing at the event
• explain results and share any concerns with the clinical lead
• give simple advice about healthy lifestyle choices
• encourage people to contact their GP practice if needed
• give people written information to take home

WHAT TRAINING AND SUPPORT WILL BE PROVIDED?

Volunteers will get free training from Kidney Research UK. Training will last:

• one day for members of the public with no clinical experience
• two days for healthcare professionals with clinical experience

You can get a £100 gift voucher after you finish training and take part in an event. You can also claim back:

• up to £10 for travel
• up to £5 for lunch

WHO CAN APPLY?

You can apply if you are:

• a healthcare professional
• a member of the public

You do not need clinical experience to apply. You must be able to join events in South Tyneside, Sunderland or South Tees.

HOW CAN I APPLY?

Interested in helping your community? Fill in the expression of interest form or get in touch.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with the Beacon of Light to launch a new NHS Eye Imaging Hub.

Children aged from 12-months to 11 years old who have missed one or both doses of the vaccine, will be invited as part of the NHS England’s campaign which runs until March next year.

In addition to measles, mumps and rubella (MMR/V), the vaccine will also include protection against chickenpox (Varicella).

Parents of children aged under six will be contacted by their local GP; while families with children aged between six and 11 will be invited by the NHS App, SMS, email or letter.

Figures published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show there were over 800 cases of measles in the first half of 2026 and two reported deaths, compared to 959 cases for the whole of 2025. There have been clusters of measles cases reported in areas of the country, with every region of England seeing cases.

Figures also show a gap of 7.5% in vaccine coverage between the least and the most deprived areas of the country.

The vaccination rate for both MMR doses at age five years in England is 84.1% (Jan – March 2026), lower than the 95% target set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and in January this year the WHO confirmed that the UK had lost its measles elimination status.

NHS Director of Vaccination Caroline Temmink said: “Measles can be devastating for families, with sometimes tragic consequences, which is why we’re reaching out to parents to help them protect their children.

“These childhood illnesses are serious and some of them in rare cases can be fatal, but they are entirely preventable.

“This is why GPs based in the communities they know so well are contacting families to help overcome any barriers to getting children the protection they need.

“If you are invited to catch up on your child’s vaccinations, please come forward and take up this crucial offer.”

Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said: “Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect children from serious diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. These illnesses can be devastating, but they are preventable through routine childhood immunisation.

“If you’ve been contacted by the NHS to catch up on your child’s vaccinations, I encourage you to take up this offer as soon as possible. Making sure children are fully vaccinated means we can help keep them healthy, protect vulnerable people in our communities and prevent future outbreaks.”

Source: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2026/07/million-parents-book-new-four-in-one-nhs-jab-protect-children-against-measles/

Although the ambulance service itself is much older, the service as we know it today was formed on 1 July 2006, following the merger of the existing North East Ambulance Service with the Tees division of the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (TENYAS).

Looking back to 2006, Facebook had only just opened to the public, YouTube was becoming the place to watch videos online, and Netflix was still posting DVDs through people’s letterboxes. Spotify didn’t exist, so if you wanted to listen to music, you were either buying a CD or convincing iTunes to take another 99p from your bank account.

Demand was already high for NEAS back then – managing around 362,000 emergency calls, 250,000 incidents attended, and over a million patient journeys that year.

It was reaching 76% of its most serious calls – then called category A calls – within the then target of eight minutes and had a total turnover of £73 million.

Since then, the ambulance service has grown from a transport-only model to one that has upskilled its clinical workforce to meet the changing needs of the population and NHS system. NEAS was also the first ambulance service to trial NHS Direct, which later became the NHS 111 service we know today.

Over the last year alone, the service answered more than 1.475m emergency 999 and NHS 111 calls, with more than 298,000 patients taken to hospital, more than 56,000 patients treated and discharged over the phone and more than 143,800 patients treated and discharged at home. It responded to more than 40,444 C1 serious and life-threatening incidents in an average time of 6 minutes 17 seconds.

Rather than being taken straight to the emergency department, more patients are now treated over the phone or in their own home and new pathways have been developed to provide better alternatives to A&E.

Andrew Hodge (pictured) joined what was then Northumbria Ambulance Service in March 1995. Having moved around the NHS in a variety of clinical roles, he returned to NEAS three years ago as the Trust’s first director of paramedicine, a new dedicated paramedic voice on the board to help guide the clinical direction of the service.

“When I look back at when I first qualified as a paramedic, for me it’s more of a reminder about what the paramedic could do compared to what we can do now,” he said.

“We were trained over six weeks to be an ambulance technician and a further 12 weeks to be a paramedic. We were focused on cannulation, intubation, life-saving drugs, cardiac arrest and trauma and I can remember taking every patient to hospital and not thinking once about why I’d taken them in. I think back now to some of the patients we took to hospital who would be fairly simple nowadays for the profession to think about managing in the community.

“Now we are much more broadly trained – yes for emergency care, but much more in the urgent care space – and are expected to be able to care for a broader range of clinical presentations.

“Whilst I can’t say what the ambulance service will look like in 20 years’ time, it will definitely need more diagnostics and innovations in technology and workforce to continue to meet the needs of the communities we serve.”

Sheila McLachlan has spent decades in the service, seeing it evolve into a profession focused on delivering the right care in the right place. Her daughter Amy Coatesworth joins a new generation, continuing a family connection to caring for others.

Sheila (pictured with Amy) said: “Every patient matters. Treat people how you’d want your own family to be treated.”

NEAS Chief Executive Kev Scollay said: “The progress that has been made in the last 20 years is staggering, particularly in regard to technology, equipment and the clinical skills of our workforce.

“The ambulance service has transformed into what was traditionally a ‘transport-only’ model into a multi-skilled organisation sitting at the heart of the NHS system, delivering highly skilled clinical care within the community and over the telephone.

“This anniversary provides us with a unique opportunity to take a pause and reflect on how far we have come over the last 20 years and, most importantly, to celebrate the people who make our service what it is, our amazing staff and volunteers.

“It also comes at a pivotal point for us in the year as we prepare to launch our new strategy, showing how our service aims to respond to the needs of our communities over the coming years.

“We have so much to be proud of as a service, and I look forward to seeing what the next 20 years hold for us.”