Ten ambulance staff from ambulance services in England, Scotland and Wales have been formally recognised for their devotion to duty in Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List published today (Saturday 29 December 2018).
The Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (QAM) 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 UK Ambulance Services.
Today’s two recipients for England are:
- Pauline Cranmer, Deputy Director of Operations for the Emergency operations Centre at London Ambulance Service NHS Trust with 24 years’ service.
- Robert Horton, Paramedic and Community First Responder Manager at South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust with almost 17 years’ service.
In addition, three other QAMs have been awarded in Wales and Scotland to:
- Gregory Charles Lloyd, Head of Clinical Services, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.
- Gillian Pleming, Utilisation Manager, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.
- Paul Gowens, Lead Consultant Paramedic, Scottish Ambulance Service.
The recipients are now entitled to place the letters ‘QAM’ after their names, on occasions when the use of such letters is customary.
In addition to the QAM awards, the following ambulance staff were also honoured:
- Yvonne Armstrong Ormston, Chief Executive, North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, who received the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
- Paul Andrew Woodrow, Director of Operations, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, who received the the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
- Mark John Ainsworth-Smith, Consultant Pre-Hospital Care Practitioner, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, was also recognised Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
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The British Empire Medal Tomos Hughes, who received the British Empire Medal (BEM) for voluntary services to the Welsh Ambulance Service.
- Kirsten Fiona Willis, Head of Operations at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, who received the British Empire Medal (BEM).
In accordance with custom, all of the awards will be formally presented at an Investiture Ceremony later in the year.
Martin Flaherty OBE, Managing Director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) said:
It is fantastic to see a number of ambulance staff from all levels within the service being honoured in such a public and high-profile manner.
We are always incredibly proud when ambulance staff are recognised for their exemplary service as it underlines the high level of dedication and care they provide to patients, often in difficult and challenging circumstances. As always, we warmly congratulate today’s award recipients.
