At 34 years old, based in  Kent , Matt Burton balances a busy life as both an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Emergency Medicine and a dedicated volunteer for BASICS Essex.   By day, he works across adult and paediatric services at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. By night—or whenever the call comes—he brings his expertise to the roadside, living rooms, and anywhere else his patients might need him.   His journey into  this field   began in 2013 when he  joined  the London Ambulance Service. “I worked in ambulance, response vehicle, and control, in both standard paramedic and advanced practice roles,” he recalls. After several years in prehospital care, he transitioned into hospital practice in 2019, where he’s since worked across two busy South London hospitals. “I’ve seen a good mix of patients and built up a lot of knowledge and skill quickly,” he explains.   But even with the variety of hospital practices, Matt felt something was missing. “I found BASICS and felt like I could use these skills for wider use in the local community” , he says. “This seemed like a no-brainer and an area of practice I had often thought was needed in my prehospital work. BASICS felt like a bridge to that.”   That bridge has not only allowed Matt to use his skills outside of the hospital walls, but also to share them with others. “I like that being a BASICS  Essex volunteer is not just about bringing knowledge and skill to the roadside. We regularly debrief ambulance crews, and these are a great opportunity to share knowledge and educate,” he explains.   “While we meet a lot of critically ill patients in our line of work, the most rewarding part of the role is being able to offer a sense of calm both for patients and supporting clinical services in distressing situations – being able to de-escalate and discharge on scene without overwhelming local health services is hugely important."   Of course, none of this would be possible without the right tools. “Our monitor is the most important piece of equipment we take to incidents,” he notes. “It gives us vital information such as blood pressure, oxygen levels, heart tracing, carbon dioxide level—without this we couldn’t do many of the things we do, such as anaesthesia, sedation, or enhanced analgesia.”   Outside of his demanding roles, Matt is first and foremost a family man. With a partner and three children, his downtime is precious. “Family time is really important to me,” he says. And when he isn’t working or with his family, you’ll often find him outdoors. “I really enjoy BBQ cooking and can often be found grilling in the garden!”   For Matt, volunteering with BASICS Essex isn’t just about critical interventions—it’s about being present for patients and crews when it matters most, bringing calm to chaos, and ensuring care extends beyond the hospital walls.

By a grateful BASICS Essex patient, Julie from Southend: "I knew the instant I hit the floor that something was badly wrong. My left foot was twisted at a strange angle & pain was building fast. By chance—good or bad—I was on a video call with my twin sister, Angie. I asked her to call an ambulance while I tried not to panic. My right leg had landed on a brass lampstand, leaving a deep gash that looked close to the bone. Angie arrived quickly and pressed a clean tea towel on the wound while I held my left foot, worried about the blood supply. Any injury is complicated for me. I live with cystic fibrosis, mild heart failure and osteopenia, and my care team are already discussing a lung transplant. The ambulance crew soon arrived and gave me gas and air while assessing the damage. They suspected my foot was dislocated and broken in two places. Stronger pain relief and a realignment were needed, so they called for a doctor. I didn’t know it then, but the doctor on his way Chris, was a volunteer with BASICS Essex , an emergency medical charity. Chris drove from Burnham and reached me in about half an hour. Calm and reassuring, he administered stronger medication and worked with the paramedics to move me outside where there was room to treat me. Living in a chalet bungalow meant the stretcher wouldn’t fit through the lounge. With extra pain relief on board, Chris realigned my dislocated foot to protect the blood supply and prevent further damage. Thanks to his skill, we avoided serious complications before I even reached hospital. In A&E, doctors attempted two further realignments but the joint kept slipping. Surgery was the only option. Two days later I underwent an operation under a spinal block—general anaesthetic was too risky given my lung and heart problems. Surgeons fixed metal plates and screws to my left ankle and cleaned and stitched the deep cut in my right leg. Only afterwards did I learn that Chris was a BASICS Essex volunteer and that the charity receives no government funding . These highly trained doctors give their time freely, responding across the county when the NHS is stretched and patients like me need urgent specialist care. I am profoundly grateful. Without BASICS Essex I would have endured hours of unnecessary pain and might have faced permanent damage. It is because Chris arrived when he did, my foot was realigned quickly & I have every chance of walking again after rehabilitation. To everyone who donates or fundraises for BASICS Essex—thank you. Your support puts doctors like Chris on the road, turning terrifying accidents into stories of expert care, compassion and hope." Learn how you can support here.

Every day across Essex, our emergency services step forward to help people in their hour of need. From road traffic collisions to sudden medical emergencies, the dedication of ambulance crews, firefighters, police officers, air ambulance teams, and voluntary services ensures that our communities are protected around the clock. Their work is nothing short of extraordinary. At BASICS Essex, we are proud to play our part in this life-saving network in Essex. As a pre-hospital emergency medical charity, our volunteer clinicians, including Doctors and Paramedics, provide enhanced critical care at the roadside or wherever it is needed. We work closely with the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance teams to ensure patients receive the very best care as quickly as possible. When a 999 call is received, the EEAST call handler gathers vital information about the incident before dispatching the most appropriate resources. Depending on the circumstances, this may involve a combination of ambulance crews, BASICS Essex volunteer clinicians, and air ambulance teams. This joined-up approach is particularly valuable during high-demand periods, as it reduces waiting times for critically ill patients and ensures they have the best chance of survival. Working Together in Critical Moments Collaboration between services is at the heart of what we do. Paramedics bring their incredible frontline expertise; air ambulance teams provide rapid transport and advanced interventions; and BASICS Essex volunteer doctors add senior skills to the scene. Each service complements the other, creating a safety net for patients at their most vulnerable moments. A recent case illustrates this teamwork in action. In the early hours of the morning, BASICS Essex were tasked to assist EEAST crews with a patient in his 30s who had suffered a heart attack. En route to a specialist cardiac centre, the patient went into cardiac arrest several times. Thanks to the combined efforts of ambulance paramedics and our volunteer doctor—who provided advanced interventions and accompanied the patient to hospital—the man not only survived the journey but was sitting up and talking just days later. Stories like this are a powerful reminder of the impact collaboration can have. No single service can do it all—but together, we achieve outcomes that save lives. The Human Side of Emergency Response Behind every incident are highly skilled professionals and volunteers giving their all in challenging and often unpredictable situations. The long nights, complex cases, and emotionally demanding calls are met with unwavering commitment to patient care. BASICS Essex volunteers dedicate their time and expertise freely, often balancing demanding medical careers with their charity work, all with one goal: to give patients the best possible chance when seconds matter. Looking Ahead As we celebrate the work of Essex’s emergency services, we also look forward. Demand continues to grow, and so does the need for collaboration. By strengthening partnerships, sharing expertise, and supporting each other, we can ensure that communities across Essex continue to benefit from world-class emergency response. At BASICS Essex, we are honoured to work alongside our colleagues in the ambulance service and air ambulance teams. Together, we are proving—every day—that collaboration saves lives. As a charity that receives no government funding, we actively pursue donations and fundraising efforts from the general public and local businesses. If you can help us, get in touch here.

WHAT WE DO BASICS Essex , formerly known as BASICS Essex Accident Rescue Service or B.E.A.R.S , is a charity made up of volunteer doctors and paramedics who respond to incidents at the request of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. We help save lives in communities across Essex and can be at your side in minutes, day or night. We're proud to supplement the outstanding service provided by our ambulance clinicians. We receive no government funding and rely solely upon your donations. Ways to donate Our committed volunteer doctors and paramedics make themselves available around the clock throughout the year. They are often first on the scene, be it at the roadside, in a field, or a home emergency. We have operated in Essex since 1973. Our qualified and experienced doctors and paramedics respond from home, or as part of a medical response team, in the schemes own Enhanced Care Car. The doctors and paramedics are able to provide additional treatment on the scene, like providing enhanced pain relief or emergency surgical interventions where required. With calls increasing BASICS Essex needs your support. You can help save more lives in your local area. Support us today and help us to continue to provide our vital lifesaving service to your local community.

Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for BASICS Essex with easyfundraising? There are over 4,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds. All you need to do is: 1. Go to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/basicsessex/ and join for free. 2. Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping. 3. After you’ve checked out, the retailer will make a donation to BASICS Essex at no extra cost to you whatsoever! There are no catches or hidden charges and BASICS Essex will be truly grateful for your donations. Thank you for your support.

As a small emegency medical charity, your donation will enable us to respond to more critical incidents across Essex, providing enhanced pre-hospital care to patients and help save lives across Essex. We do not receive any statutory funding and therefore rely solely upon grants and donations. Donate Thank you for considering donating to BASICS Essex. Below are various ways you can donate, take part in our weekly charity lottery, and generate FREE donations through shopping cashback. ONLINE DONATION Donate to us through JustGiving to directly fund our lifesaving work. TEXT MESSAGE (SMS) To donate £5 , text ESSEX to 70085 To donate a sum of your choice, text ESSEX followed by the amount (no £ sign). Example: Essex 15 You will have the option to Gift Aid your donation via a reply text link. Weekly Lottery Join our weekly charity lottery to help us raise funds, while also being in the chance to win some great prizes! Win prizes of up to £25,000 Christmas Mega Bundle prize Guaranteed BASICS Essex winners 50% of all tickets sold go to us Tickets cost just £1 per week Get your tickets Gift vouchers Lottery powered by OneLottery. T&Cs apply. See website for details. WRITE A CHEQUE If you'd like to donate by cheque, please make it payable to BASICS Essex Post it to: BASICS Essex, Moulsham Mill, Parkway, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 7PX Free donations through easyfundraising You can raise FREE funds for us when you shop through easyfundraising. There are 4,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds. More info FUNDRAISING EVENTS Check our Events page for more ideas on how to fundraise for us