Nine winners have been crowned at an awards ceremony which aimed to recognise ambulance service staff and volunteers who are the pride of the NHS. East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust’s (EMAS) first ever ‘Values and Recognition Awards’ were held at the Colwick Hall Hotel, Nottingham, yesterday evening at 6pm.
The event was made possible by the generosity of local businesses who offered sponsorship and donations, and the EMAS Charitable Trust. More than 120 nominations were received for the awards which singled-out those who exemplify EMAS’ values including teamwork, integrity and respect.
Winners and those highly commended represent the best of the service through dealings with patients, colleagues and other healthcare professionals. They included:
- Nottingham’s Bob Street (59) of Beeston, who has dedicated nearly 40 years to the service and was described as ‘one in a million’ by colleagues;
- EMAS Events Manager Clifford Ward (64) of Hinckley, who fully immerses himself in all things EMAS providing operational cover when normal resources are under pressure and being someone colleagues can turn to for help whatever the problem
- Chesterfield Emergency Care Practitioner Tim Evans (43) who was first on scene to a house fire and dragged a patient to safety – then later that day attended a major road traffic accident where his skills allowed him to stitch minor wounds by the roadside;
- Leicestershire paramedic and EMAS’ Locality Manager Michael Jones who was credited with helping to improve his division’s performance
- Leicestershire team Rachel Makins (33) and John Rushin (63) for going above and beyond what would be expected of them to ensure that a new scheme which provides certain patients with transport to A&E in a vehicle other than a frontline ambulance, is fully utilized and makes a difference; and
- Volunteer Marcus Hacker who founded and coordinates a community first responder group in St Giles, Lincoln.
The awards were open to all of EMAS’ clinical staff such as paramedics, technicians and control staff but also volunteer community first responders and the non-clinical teams who support frontline staff.
Accolades were presented across seven categories, five of which reflect EMAS’ core values of: respect, integrity, contribution, teamwork and competence.
Teamwork award winner Rachel Makins said: “We started to realize we’d won when the Chairman read out the introduction to our category, and we were totally overwhelmed. I’m really proud to have won an award for something that I so enjoy.”
A Willetts Award was given to a Leicestershire ambulance crew made up of Tony Barber (44), an emergency medical technician and Dan Sneath (29) paramedic, both from Melton Mowbray.
This award, in memory of Nottingham soldier Michael Willetts, recognises bravery above and beyond the call of duty. It was given to the pair after they attended a serious assault.
They arrived on scene before police yet made the decision to proceed because they feared the victim was seriously injured. Inside the property they found a patient with multiple stab wounds and another person who was armed with a knife. They managed to persuade that individual to put down the weapon and wait for the police.
Despite difficult circumstances the pair gave all the treatment they could. Sadly, they were unable to save the patient who later died.
The men received a standing ovation when they went up to collect the award.
Former Eastenders-star Dean Gaffney presented the Willetts Award and was also reunited with the EMAS crew who came to his aid when he was injured in a car accident in Derby earlier this year.
The evening saw the introduction of an award to recognise the special contribution of EMAS’ volunteers, who support clinicians by acting as community first responders across the region.
The Paul Richard Basford Award for Volunteers was sponsored by the family of Paul Basford, who died in a tragic road-accident in Nottinghamshire in 2001. Family and friends have fundraised in Paul’s memory for many years, including buying defibrillators for EMAS.
Marcus Hacker, from Lincoln was the first winner of the trophy, in recognition of his work setting up a community first responder scheme for Lincoln’s St Giles’ estate.
The scheme was described as exemplary as it has both helped EMAS respond to life-threatening calls and given local people the chance to learn life-saving skills.
EMAS’ chairman Jon Towler hosted the evening which also saw 45 Long Service Awards being presented to staff who have been with EMAS for 20 years or more.
The Long Service Awards were presented by EMAS’ chief executive Phil Milligan and Nottinghamshire’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant Colonel Tim Richmond.
EMAS’ Chairman, Jon Towler, said: “The evening was a fantastic opportunity to take the time to thank our dedicated staff and volunteers for a job well done.
“I’m proud of the 122 people and teams who were nominated for awards and know that they represent the commitment and professionalism of EMAS as a whole.
“The amazing stories we heard tonight are a reminder of the difference colleagues and all volunteers – medical first responders, co-responders, doctors and community first responders – make to patient’s lives every single day.”
