Building work has started on South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust’s (SECAmb’s) new multi-purpose ambulance, 999 and NHS 111 contact centre in Gillingham, Kent.

The development will include 999 and 111 contact centre operations as well as a Make Ready Centre – the only one of its kind to bring all three functions together under one roof.

Integrating both 999 and 111 services is a key part of SECAmb’s strategy to deliver more joined up integrated care and to increase efficiency. The development will also bring the east of SECAmb’s region in line with its West Emergency Operations Centre (including NHS 111), based in Crawley, which opened in 2017.

SECAmb Executive Director of Operations Emma Williams said:

“It’s really great that building work is now under way on this important development for SECAmb. Our current building at Coxheath is outdated and not adequate for our requirements. Having operations contact centres for 999 and 111 under one roof will ensure we further optimise functions between the services.

“The new contact centre provides us with greater capacity, means we can improve the ratio of 999 call taking across our two EOCs and will bring local recruitment opportunities for people across both 999 and 111 services.