NHS 111 and 999 workers will soon be operating under the same roof with the aim of increasing efficiency.

111 staff, who are currently based in Ashford, will be re-locating to the new Gillingham building in Bredgar Road on Wednesday (June 28).

999 frontline operation workers moved to the site earlier this month and both teams will be joined by 999 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) workers later this year. The EOC receives and triages 999 calls.

The ambulance depot will be the first in the country to bring a Make Ready Centre, EOC, and NHS 111 contact centre together under one roof. A Make Ready Centre is where ambulances are prepared by being cleaned, checked and restocked at the start and end of each shift.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service is hoping to increase efficiency and deliver more joined up care by integrating 999 and 111 services.

The new centre will provide the Trust with greater contact centre capacity and will bring local recruitment opportunities for people across both services.

John J O'Sullivan, associate director for integrated care for 999 and 111 at SECAmb said: “I’m really pleased that our NHS 111 teams will be joining their frontline colleagues at the new centre this week.

“This is an important move as we continue to evolve and share best practice across our 999 and 111 functions.

“I would like to thank all those involved in this project which is a significant undertaking and which will be of real benefit to the Trust and our patients. I wish everyone well in their new home.”