ESS Blog

Paramedic shortages continue to challenge emergency healthcare, both in Canada and beyond. For Medavie, the nation’s largest emergency medical services provider, the answer lies in innovation, integration, and collaboration – approaches that strike a chord with emergency services audiences in the UK and internationally.

Collaboration, education, and representation are central to modern paramedicine. At the College of Paramedics, these principles guide everything from professional development to cultural change, with CPD Advisor Steve Poulton helping to put them into practice.  

At The Emergency Services Show in September, Ballyclare’s Philip Tasker and Edward Shepherd discussed how working closely with fire and rescue services is helping to shape the next generation of firefighter PPE, ensuring it meets operational demands, supports health, and aligns with user needs.  

Transporting a newborn safely is among the most challenging tasks for an ambulance crew. These tiny patients demand careful temperature control and gentle handling, yet until recently, most transport systems were adapted from equipment intended for older children, leaving gaps in both safety and usability. At The Emergency Services Show, Michael Graf from Kohlbrat and Bunz highlighted how a collaborative design process with UK ambulance services and midwives has produced a system purpose-built for newborn transport.

Detective Superintendent Frankie Westoby has spent nearly 30 years in policing. Beginning as a volunteer Special Constable and now a senior leadership trainer at the College of Policing, her career reflects resilience, visibility, and the impact of embracing opportunity. As part of Emergency Services Times’ #SheServesToo campaign, Frankie’s story provides a candid look at leadership, balancing family with frontline duties, and paving the way for the next generation of women in policing.

The Capita Fire Service College is redefining firefighter and emergency responder training with its new immersive skills lab, combining virtual scenarios, hands-on exercises, and multi-agency collaboration to equip personnel for the challenges of today’s complex operations.  At The Emergency Services Show, Alex Clark, Chief Fire Officer at Capita, Mark Lester, College Director, and Pippa Steele, Head of Curriculum Design, outlined how the College is rethinking traditional approaches to emergency service training.  

Gary Walsh has dedicated over 30 years to the fire service, progressing from firefighter to national leadership roles. Today, he brings that frontline insight to Dräger, focusing on how connected, hands-free equipment can reduce fatigue, enhance situational awareness, and ultimately improve crew safety. At The Emergency Services Show, Gary joined Dräger account manager Kevin Barton to explore how innovation is reshaping firefighting, from clearer communications to lighter kit, and the cultural hurdles that stand in the way of adoption.

Collisions involving UK emergency vehicles cost services an estimated £150m a year. A new partnership between HAAS Alert and Standby Group aims to reduce that risk by giving drivers crucial advance warnings of approaching emergency vehicles and roadside hazards.

Thousands of emergency services respond well to UK’s leading showcase of innovation, training and collaboration  Birmingham, 26 September 2025 - The Emergency Services Show (ESS) and The Emergency Tech Show (ETS) returned to the NEC, Birmingham from 17-18 September, drawing in thousands of visitors and showcasing the latest ideas, technology and equipment designed to support the UK’s emergency services.  ESS welcomed 12,231 visitors and 563 exhibitors, while ETS brought in 7,660 visitors and 150 exhibitors. Both shows saw year-on-year growth, reinforcing their place as Europe’s leading annual event for the blue light community.  ESS once again proved to be the meeting point for the entire emergency services sector. The exhibition floor was alive with conversation as suppliers demonstrated new tools, vehicles and equipment, from next-generation PPE to ambulance fit-outs and rescue tools put to the test in live demonstrations. 

The Emergency Services Show (ESS), co-located with The Emergency Tech Show (ETS), is teaming up with TeamPolice and Police Sport UK to debut an exciting new live sports demonstration zone at this year’s event.