Gateshead Hatzola is a 100% volunteer community first response and ambulance service which has served the Bensham and Saltwell areas of Gateshead since 1990.
    We work closely with North East Ambulance Service and with local hospitals and GPs to provide a service which complements rather than replaces NHS provision.
    Our responders have been trained by senior clinicians and we are under the clinical direction of a doctor experienced in unscheduled care.
    Our volunteer responders live and work within our service area, so we are usually able to achieve a response time of under two minutes. While one or more responders proceed directly to the scene and begin treatment, another will collect the ambulance if required.
   'Hatzola' comes from the Hebrew word meaning 'rescue' and there are Hatzola groups in Jewish communities worldwide. Although Gateshead Hatzola is run by the local Jewish community, we attend to patients of all faiths or none.
    When we were inspected by CQC in June 2025, they rated us Good, and said that we are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led and Outstanding in supporting people to live healthier lives. Click the CQC logo below to read their report.
    Gateshead Hatzola is one of seven Hatzola groups in the UK. You can find out more about the other UK Hatzola groups on their websites:
Hatzola Trust (North London)
Hatzola North West (NW London)
Hatzola Manchester
Hatzola Edgware
Hatzola Canvey Island
Hatzola Herts
    The appeal videos below will give you an idea of how Gateshead Hatzola has changed over the years.
   Some of our main policies are available below. If you want to see any other polices, please use the Contact Us page to request them.