Ambulance crews will be able to rest at fire stations in between calls rather than sitting in their vehicles at the roadside.

From today (Monday), paramedics will be able to use the new ambulance community response posts at Rainham, Rochester, Sheppey and Edenbridge fire stations.

The posts are all additional locations for crews to respond to emergency calls from and replace a number of roadside cover points currently used.

Each post can accommodate one crew at a time and ensure that staff can rest, with facilities, between calls.

Paramedic and operating unit manager, Nick Keech, said: “We’re pleased to have agreed this arrangement with our colleagues at Kent Fire and Rescue which means our crews will more often be able to rest comfortably between jobs rather than sit in their vehicles at the roadside.

"It’s important that we are able to locate our staff where they are best placed to respond to patients but also be able to rest in comfort" - Nick Keech, SECAMB

“It’s important that we are able to locate our staff where they are best placed to respond to patients but also be able to rest in comfort. We will continue to explore other opportunities for further additional locations based on patient demand.”

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has worked with Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) on the scheme.

KFRS’ operational and development manager, David Escudier, said: “KFRS is delighted to be able to work closely with SECAmb.

"We have expanded our co-responding work - where firefighters respond to life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrests, chest pains and breathing difficulties - on behalf of SECAmb throughout the county.

“Having joint response stations is the natural next step in this common sense collaboration.”