The third set of recipients of the prestigious Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal for Distinguished Service were announced in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours list this morning (Saturday 15th June 2013).
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 NHS Ambulance Services. The award was introduced last year and was warmly welcomed by ambulance services because it finally 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 QAM 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.
The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) is responsible for co-ordinating the nominations of QAMs in England, with nominations coming from within Trusts and being seconded by their Trust Chief Executives before being sent for consideration for final nomination by the AACE Board. Today’s two recipients for England include:
- Mr David Bull, Head of Education, National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU), seconded from South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust – who received the QAM for his, “tireless dedication to driving national ambulance education forward by demonstrating initiative, innovation, determination, confidence and leadership.”
- Mr Roland Chesney, Resilience Manager, East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust – who received the award for his dedication and passion for ambulance services, even after 41 years in the job. He was referred to as, “a shining example to our younger members of staff.”
Each of the recipients is now entitled to place the letters QAM after their names, on occasions when the use of such letters is customary. In accordance with custom, the medals will be formally presented at an Investiture Ceremony later in the year.
Martin Flaherty, Managing Director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) said: “It is extremely gratifying to know that some of our most creative, committed and talented ambulance staff are able to receive such a high level of recognition for their work as the Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal. Indeed, there is no higher honour and both David and Roland can feel rightly proud of their achievements, as we do at AACE. Long may they continue to make a significant impact on the many thousands of lives their work affects.”
The citation for Mr Bull included reference to the excellent relationships he has built up with colleagues in multiagency partners, Government Departments and in health and ambulance services abroad. In addition many letters of support were received in support of Mr Bull’s citation from a broad range of people with whom he has worked with over the years.
The citation for Mr Bull noted: “David has overcome many obstacles to develop high quality education, both personal and professional, going not just the extra mile but often far beyond, his tireless dedication to deliver exceptionally high standards has resulted in being away from home for significant periods, often spending four or five nights away each week for the past five years. Despite this, David has sustained the high tempo and has genuinely driven national ambulance education forward by demonstrating initiative, innovation, determination, confidence and leadership.”
The citation for Mr Chesney noted: “Roland has been a dedicated and loyal member of the East of England Ambulance Service for 41 years. His service record is exemplary and he has always maintained very high professional standards in all situations. He is very highly respected throughout the Trust and particularly by his close working colleagues. Roland has dedicated an enormous amount of time to raising funds for the Ambulance Service Benevolent Fund, of which he is also a board member. Roland is one of those people who seems to be known by all for his friendly, jovial manner, he is always happy to help anyone in need, whether it be advice or just a shoulder to cry on. He is an absolute joy to work with and he continues to be a shining example to our younger members of staff and thoroughly deserves to be considered for a Queens Ambulance Medal.”
