Eastern City BID's Cycle Medics shortlisted for awards

The scheme, which began in May 2025, involves St John Ambulance cycle response medics  being deployed alongside the City of London Police Cycle Team who together patrol the Square Mile to assist any member of the public in difficulty or distress. Typically out once a week on a Thursday evening, during the busy festive period this was extended to three shifts over Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Over the 35 shifts since May, the medics have treated 106 members of the public out on the street for a range of ailments including cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, head injuries, intoxication, assaults and mental health crises. 48 ambulance call-outs have been avoided, saving the NHS an estimated £22k as well valuable staff time. Likewise for the police, rapid medical assistance to incidents means officers can be released to instead focus on preventing and detecting crime.

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Henry Johnstone, Chief Operating Officer for the Eastern City, said:  “The City is a fantastic place to visit and we found that the Christmas period was exceptionally busy  with people enjoying all the hospitality this area has to offer.

“ We are immensely proud to sponsor the cycle medics to ensure that workers and visitors have an exemplary experience here, safe in the knowledge that there are many initiatives in place to ensure they get home including specialist policing operations, taxi marshals and our newly launched City Safe Bus outside Liverpool Street Station. The medics deserve immense recognition for the complex work they do – particularly as all are volunteers, with some even holding day-jobs as doctors, paramedics and nurses within the NHS.”