In a significant milestone for the East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme (EMICS), the organisation has appointed its first paid staff member in nearly four decades.

Roger Linnell boasts an impressive 33 years of service within the National Health Service (NHS) and various private healthcare sectors. He began his career in the ambulance service, later spending two decades working on the Lincs and Notts air ambulance.

In his new role as Operations Manager at EMICS, Roger’s primary focus will be on recruitment and enhancing the deployment of Fast Response Vehicles (FRVs). He will also lead on clinical compliance, procurement, and provide operational support to EMICS’s dedicated team of volunteers.

In starting the role, Roger said: “I am very excited that this role is a new phase in the development of EMICS. I am very humbled to join the team and move the service, with its long history, into its next new chapter.”

Outside of work, Roger is married to Dionne and together they have a son, Cameron, who recently celebrated his 15th birthday. A lover of outdoor pursuits, he completed a trek across the Sahara desert, covering 100km in just 5 days in 47-degree heat!

The appointment of Roger is an exciting step forward for EMICS, moving towards the expansion of its lifesaving activities.

Roger started his role on 1 April 2024.