The 999 pilot, which has been funded with the support of the East of England Ambulance Service Charity and a £142,000 grant from NHS Charities Together, is being carried out by East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust.

Dr Simon Walsh, medical director for EEAST said: ‘Providing CPR as soon as possible is a massive part in improving the chances of survival.

‘This scheme will help bystanders keep patients alive during those vital minutes when our ambulances are on their way.'

During the 999 call, advanced paramedics in the ambulance control room will contact bystanders via the GoodSAM video platform.

They will assess the situation visually and deliver patient-specific advice and expert guidance on providing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation until the ambulance crew arrives.

The pilot is based on a programme successfully trialled in Denmark.

The out-of-hospital cardiac arrest desk will be based at EEAST's emergency operations centre and will run four days a week, 7am to 7pm, starting later this year.