The Sussex Heart Charity and Brighton & Hove Buses mark the first anniversary of Professor Chamberlain’s passing with commemorative journey through Brighton.
Brighton & Hove Buses has named one of their new electric buses in honour of pioneering cardiologist Prof. Douglas Chamberlain (CBE), in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cardiac medicine and emergency pre-hospital care. To celebrate this, the Sussex Heart Charity and Brighton & Hove Buses held a commemorative event on Friday 22nd May. The event also marked the first anniversary of his passing, and brought together Douglas’s family, friends, colleagues, and the new Mayor of Brighton & Hove. It was a special occasion and a celebration of his lasting legacy.
Douglas Chamberlain established one of the world’s first Paramedic Teams in the early 1970s while working as Consultant Cardiologist at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. His Brighton training for Ambulance Drivers and Nurses became the UK’s first paramedic course. He was instrumental is setting up institutions that govern standards in resuscitation internationally, championed the development of the paramedic profession and the widespread adoption of resuscitation and defibrillation by the public. His work not only helped develop cardiac services across Sussex but also had a lasting impact nationally and internationally, with his vision continuing to influence emergency response and patient care today.
The Sussex Heart Charity evolved from the patient-led donations that followed Prof. Chamberlain’s work. We proud to have Douglas as our founder and to continue his legacy, with much of our work still reflecting his original vision: championing innovation and education, supporting cardiac patients and advancing cardiac care. Our current projects include ‘AEDs in the Community’, which provides grants to local communities to support the installation of publicly accessible Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) across Sussex and ‘Rescue Ready’, which offers free AED and CPR awareness sessions to community groups. Other initiatives include funding medical equipment for NHS cardiac units, supporting specialist cardiac nurses, and offering educational bursaries to NHS cardiac staff.
“Prof. Douglas Chamberlain, widely known as the “grandfather of paramedicine,” founded the first paramedic unit in Europe in 1971, revolutionising pre-hospital clinical care. Although he faced opposition from fellow doctors and the department of health, he taught ambulance staff and nurses resuscitation techniques that doctors thought only they could do. Brighton became only the second place in the world after Seattle in the US where non-medical professionals used defibrillators.”
Peter Freeman CBE (SHC Chair of Trustees)
“Professor Chamberlain’s legacy continues to guide Sussex Heart Charity today. We are incredibly proud not only to have been founded through his work, but to have the privilege of carrying his vision forward for future generations. Douglas believed passionately in innovation, education and empowering communities to save lives, values that remain central to our mission today. Whether supporting NHS cardiac services, patients and healthcare professionals, or reaching communities through AEDs and lifesaving education, we are proud to play our part.
I’d like to thank Brighton & Hove Buses for helping to recognise Douglas’s contribution in this way. It feels particularly fitting that his name will now travel through Brighton, regularly passing the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he helped shape cardiac care for so many years.”
Matt Denison (SHC Chief Executive)
The newly named ‘Douglas Chamberlain’ bus is the first of a new fleet of sixteen zero-emission electric vehicles being introduced by Brighton & Hove Buses, designed to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions across the city. Developed in collaboration with disability and community groups, including Alzheimer’s Society, the buses include features such as two wheelchair bays, dementia-friendly flooring and seating, and audio and visual next stop announcements to support inclusive travel for all passengers. The bus is now in service on route 7, where fittingly it regularly passes the Royal Sussex County Hospital.
“We are proud to honour Professor Douglas Chamberlain with one of our new electric buses. His pioneering work has had a lasting impact on emergency care, and it’s fitting that his name will continue to travel through the city he served. This tribute reflects both his legacy and our commitment to a healthier future for Brighton & Hove.”
Rupert Cox (Interim Managing Director, Brighton & Hove Buses)
The ‘Douglas Chamberlain’ bus was taken out of service for the event to allow invited guests to take a special journey following a route from Brighton Marina, past the hospital and along the seafront before stopping on Madeira Drive for photos.
The event was attended by Douglas’s family, alongside Theresa Fowler, Mayor of Brighton & Hove, in her first official public engagement, as well as representatives from Brighton & Hove Buses and the Sussex Heart Charity.
Guests also included former colleagues and friends Douglas. Among those in attendance were Janet Stevens, Douglas’s long-standing secretary, Dr Richard Vincent and Dr Chris Davidson, who worked with Douglas at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and David Fletcher, one of the first paramedics to be trained in Brighton.
“The new Brighton & Hove Electric Bus commemorating Douglas Chamberlain is a wonderful tribute to this Great Man who was inspirational and whose lifelong commitment was dedicated to ‘Saving Lives’. His impact on the world has been life-saving and life-changing.
I had the great honour and privilege of working closely with Douglas as his secretary for over 40 years. Witnessing first hand his Vision, relentless drive and ambition for success was awe-inspiring. Amongst his numerous lifetime achievements Douglas was the Founder of the Paramedic Profession, transforming Pre-hospital Emergency Care into the Gold Standard of Excellence for patient care that is now adhered to locally and internationally. His strong and influential leadership made everyone he encountered sit up and take notice. He commanded respect, yet he was the most humble person I knew. He made you believe in yourself, to strive to do even better than your best, and that anything was possible to achieve if you put your heart and soul into it – and to never take ‘No’ for an answer! We would all do well to remember that thanks to Douglas Chamberlain millions of lives have been saved around the world, and it all started here in Brighton in 1971”
Janet Stevens
“Once met Douglas was a man one would never forget, such was his drive and passion to heal and support, not only those in his care, but most importantly, those he would never meet. As founder of the paramedic profession and the greatest proponent of defibrillators, he directly and indirectly saved countless lives, working right in to his 90s. Those of us fortunate to have had him as a friend remain blessed to have known such an inspiring, humorous and modest man”
Juliet Smith (JP DL)
To highlight the impact of Douglas’s work, a number of former cardiac patients were also invited to attend the event. Their presence served as a powerful reminder of the real-world outcomes made possible by the advances in emergency pre-hospital response and cardiac treatment made possible by Douglas’s contributions.
The event was a very special occasion and a fitting tribute to Douglas’s life and career and the lasting impact of his visionary work. His legacy lives on through the Sussex Heart Charity, but also through the many healthcare professionals and emergency responders inspired by his teaching and leadership.
The ‘Douglas Chamberlain’ bus stands as a visible and lasting tribute within the city he served.
