The King’s New Year Honours list for 2026 has seen the King’s Ambulance Service Medal (KAM) awarded to ambulance employees from South Western, Welsh, West Midlands, Scottish and Isle of Man Ambulance Services.
The King’s Ambulance Service Medal (KAM)
This year has seen five recipients recognised with the KAM, which honours a select group of ambulance personnel who have shown exceptional devotion to duty, outstanding ability, merit and conduct in their roles within NHS ambulance services.
Dr Alison Walker has been awarded the King’s Ambulance Medal in recognition of her dedication and distinguished service to the ambulance sector.
She started working with West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) in 2010 as its interim Medical Director before taking the position on a permanent basis between 2019 and 2024.
Alison is currently Chair of the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee which sets the clinical guidelines for all UK ambulance services.
She also responds as a BASICS (British Association for Immediate Care) emergency doctor providing advanced, hospital-level care at the scene of serious 999 emergencies and continues to work as Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.
At the Welsh Ambulance Service, Cath John, Locality Manager, has been awarded the King’s Ambulance Service Medal (KAM) for distinguished service.
The mother-of-two completed her paramedic training in 2004 and stayed in that role for 11 years before becoming a Clinical Team Leader in 2015.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Cath worked as an Operations Manager and in 2021, took on her latest role as a Locality Manager.
Learn more about Cath’s honour here.
At the South Western Ambulance Service Chris Mann, a paramedic for over 20 years, has been awarded the KAM in recognition of his outstanding dedication, professionalism and commitment to both patient care and the welfare of his colleagues.
Chris was nominated for the King’s Ambulance Medal while working as an Operations Officer at Falmouth Ambulance Station, a role in which he consistently went above and beyond to support staff wellbeing, development and morale.
Over a career spanning more than two decades he has become widely known as a calm, compassionate and dependable leader, whose support has had a lasting positive impact on organisational culture locally in Cornwall.
Learn more about Chris’ deserved accolade here.
In Scotland, paramedic Dave Bywater, who has played an instrumental role in shaping Scotland’s Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest strategy, has also been awarded the KAM.
Dave, who is the Scottish Ambulance Service’s Lead Consultant Paramedic, has dedicated the prestigious accolade, which acknowledges staff who’ve displayed exceptional devotion to duty, to his late dad Tom and daughter Rachel.
Dave joined SAS in 1996, starting out as an ambulance care assistant in Pitlochry. He qualified as a paramedic in 2001 before going on to join the Service’s Special Operations Response Team (SORT) in Edinburgh. His career has since spanned roles including Clinical Advisor, Practice Placement Educator and now, Lead Consultant Paramedic.
In the Isle of Man, Will Bellamy, Head of the Island’s Ambulance Service says he feels ‘really honoured and privileged’ after receiving the King’s Ambulance Medal.
Will has been granted the award in recognition of more than 20 years with the ambulance service.
Beginning his career in 2004 with Surrey Ambulance Service while studying Paramedic Science at St George’s Hospital, London, he qualified as a Paramedic in 2007 and quickly progressed into senior operational leadership roles across Surrey, Sussex, and Kent.
Further recognition for dedication to ambulance, paramedic, pre-hospital and patient care services:
Nigel Jones, Emergency Medical Technician, Welsh Ambulance Service University NHS Trust, is awarded the MBE for Voluntary Service. Read more here.
Christopher Murdock, Chair, St John Ambulance Northern Ireland, awarded the MBE for Voluntary Service to St John Ambulance.
Stephen Farbrother, a volunteer Community First Responder (CFR) with SWASFT, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM). Read more here.
Sigurd Haveland, Chief Paramedic and Divisional Clinical Lead (Primary & Emergency Services), Gibraltar Health Authorities; Chief Executive Officer, St Johns Ambulance – Gibraltar, awarded the MBE for services to Health in Gibraltar. Read more here.
Twins Ryan Appleton and Dean Appleton, both community first responders with EEAST, are also receiving British Empire Medals (BEM) for services to the community in the East of England. Read more here.
Dean Caldwell is awarded the MBE for Voluntary and Charitable Service to the community in South Wales. Read more here.
Professor Charles Deakin, Travelling Physician to The King and Queen, awarded the Royal Victorian Order (L.V.O).
Professor Ian Greaves, Co-Founder, Trauma Care and Patron, Magpas Air Ambulance, awarded the OBE for services to Pre-Hospital Care.
Dr. Dorothy Clayton, Volunteer, St John Ambulance County Priory, awarded the BEM for Voluntary Service.
Colin Wells, Ambulance Support Volunteer, West Midlands, British Red Cross, awarded a BEM for Voluntary Service.
Commenting on the above honours, Jason Killens KAM, AACE Chair and CEO at London Ambulance Service, said:
Our sincere congratulations to all ambulance employees and volunteers who have been deservedly recognised their remarkable contributions to the ambulance sector, its patients and its people.
We are indebted to them for their incredible efforts and achievements.
All at AACE applaud and congratulate this year’s recipients, who will receive their medals at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace later in the new year.
About the King’s Ambulance Service Medal
The King’s Ambulance Service Medal (KAM) honours a very small, select group of ambulance personnel who have shown exceptional devotion to duty, outstanding ability, merit and conduct in their roles within NHS Ambulance Services.
The award was introduced in 2011 (as the Queen’s Ambulance Medal, QAM) and ensures that the dedication of ambulance staff now has the same level of Royal recognition as other members of the emergency services.
The number of nominations for a KAM in any one year may never exceed ten and includes up to four Medals for England, up to two Medals for Wales, up to two Medals for Scotland, up to one Medal for Northern Ireland and up to one Medal for the Channel Islands. They are awarded twice a year.
Nominations for the KAM can be made using the form on this page.
