Successful Multi-Agency Exercise Showcases Collaboration and Safety at Whitehills
Emergency services and care professionals came together in East Kilbride on Monday 6 October for a major training exercise hosted by Enhance Healthcare at newly acquired Whitehills Care Home.
The large-scale event saw the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service, and Whitehills staff work side by side during a simulated emergency designed to test and strengthen joint response procedures.
Fire alarms sounded throughout the building as smoke machines filled rooms, creating a realistic environment for the full-scale evacuation. Enhance Healthcare staff were actively involved throughout the day, both supporting operations inside the building and taking part in the simulation itself. Actors played the role of residents both inside and outside the home, being guided to safety and treated by emergency personnel for simulated injuries and illness.
The scenario took place in an empty wing of Whitehills Care Home, which has recently become part of the Enhance Healthcare family and is due to undergo refurbishment. This rare opportunity gave all involved valuable insight into how different teams communicate and respond under pressure, strengthening coordination and safety for those in care.
SFRS Group Commander Gary Hoey said:
“It’s really important to bring emergency services together for training exercises like this one in East Kilbride to test our readiness to respond to serious incidents involving multiple casualties. By simulating scenarios, like a fire within a care home, we can identify areas that worked well or establish where we need to refine our protocols so that we continue to work together to protect communities. A huge thank you to our emergency service partners and also to Enhance Healthcare for the opportunity to organise a training scenario in a care home setting.”
Reflecting on the success of the day, Andy Jamieson, CEO of Enhance Healthcare, added:
“At Enhance Healthcare, our residents are always at the centre of everything we do. We were more than happy to facilitate this unique exercise which provided an opportunity to test our own procedures as a company, collaborate with Scotland’s emergency services, and strengthen emergency response and safety for everyone in our care. I want to thank all those involved and hope this partnership continues in future.”
Following the exercise, a period of consultation and review will begin to evaluate what worked well, identify areas for improvement, and capture insights that can inform future training and emergency preparedness across Scotland’s care sector.
Enhance Healthcare wishes to thank the SFRS, Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service, and everyone involved for their dedication and collaboration. The professionalism shown across all agencies was outstanding, and we also greatly appreciate the support of residents, families, and our local community, whose cooperation helped make the event both safe and successful.
A special thanks goes to Whitehills manager Michelle Hampson for all her hard work and to Enhance Healthcare's Maintenance Manager, Davie Upton, who spearheaded this collaboration. Davie and Michelle's commitment to fire safety and their drive to make this event possible exemplify the values we hold across Enhance Healthcare - prioritising safety, teamwork, and striving to continually improve in everything we do.
