Archbishop of Canterbury tours ambulance service

The new Archbishop of Canterbury has paid a visit to an ambulance service in Kent.

Dame Sarah Mullally, who was installed as leader of the Church of England in March, toured the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) centre in Gillingham on Saturday.

The archbishop, the first woman to hold the office, spent time with staff from frontline operations, the emergency operations centre and the NHS 111 contact centre.

A Secamb spokesperson said the visit was to "gain a deeper understanding of the trust's chaplaincy service and the support it provides to colleagues".

They added: "A key focus of the visit was the contribution chaplains make to colleague wellbeing, offering pastoral care, guidance and a listening ear to colleagues of all faiths and none.

"The service supports staff working in a range of challenging environments, helping them navigate the emotional demands that can come with delivering urgent and emergency healthcare."

During her visit, Dame Sarah heard experiences of chaplaincy support and its development over the years.

She also visited the emergency operations centre, where she learned more about the support available to call handlers, dispatchers and clinicians.

Dame Sarah spent decades working in the NHS before entering ordained ministry.

A former chief nursing officer for England, she has a "longstanding connection to healthcare and a keen interest in supporting those working on the frontline of patient care", the Secamb spokesperson said.

The afternoon concluded with an informal prayer gathering.

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