999 calls diverted in power loss

Emergency ambulance calls for Kent had to be re-routed through control centres in Sussex and Surrey after an electrical surge led to a power loss.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) said "significant electrical problems" were experienced in the Kent Emergency Dispatch Centre on Thursday.

But it said all 999 calls were dealt with and none went unanswered.

The centre in Coxheath, near Maidstone, is one of SECAmb's three sites that receives and handles 999 calls.

SECAmb said in a statement that a full investigation to identify the cause of the problem, which lasted "a few minutes", was under way.

"We would like to assure our patients and the public that we have robust, tried and tested, plans in place to deal with problems such as this if they should arise.

"These were successfully put into action to ensure we continued to offer ambulance services to those that called upon us for help," it said.