West Midlands Ambulance Service awards honour members of the public
An awards ceremony has been held to honour members of the public from across the West Midlands region who have gone beyond the call of duty to help save lives and support the work of West Midlands Ambulance Service’s 4,000 staff.
The event, at Treetops on the grounds of West Midland Safari park in Bewdley, recognised the efforts of Midlands Air Ambulance fundraisers, voluntary car drivers, members of St. John Ambulance, Severn Area Rescue Association, Community First Responders, 4x4 drivers and people who helped West Midlands Ambulance Service recruit members as part of its plans to become an NHS Foundation Trust.
Addressing the audience, West Midlands Ambulance Service Chief Executive Anthony Marsh described how the organisation is supported by 1,500 volunteers, a thousand of whom are Community First Responders. He said: “The work that you do is nothing short of fantastic. The lives that you save are numerous, whether you’re responding to patients, responding to 999 calls and using your lifesaving skills on a regular basis, or whether you are raising money for Community First Responders or indeed for the helicopters. We wouldn’t be as successful as we are now if it wasn’t for all of you and all of the colleagues and volunteers who support you on a daily basis. I want to say a really big personal thank you to all of you.”
Presenting some of the awards, Lady Morrison, the High Sheriff of Worcestershire said: “I want to congratulate the winners because what you do is to provide the backbone service to West Midlands Ambulance Service. Without you, without your dedication, without your generosity of your time, this ambulance service could simply not run. I am very honoured and very, very proud to be giving these awards.”
Among the VIPs present at the ceremony was Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier who said: “I don’t think we Members of Parliament say often enough that we are incredibly grateful for the huge amount of work that huge numbers of people do to look after the interests and wellbeing of the people that we represent at Westminster.” He praised the work of Midlands Air Ambulance, voluntary car drivers, Community First Responders, Severn Area Rescue Association and St. John Ambulance who he said “I have a particularly soft spot for” following the assistance they offered to him after a horse-riding incident.
Shropshire Award Recipients
Dave Fulton (Highley), Martin Hill (Bridgnorth), Lee Gough (Bridgnorth), Ian Thompson (Bridgnorth) CFRs – Distinguished Service Award
Shropshire CFRs schemes were first established in 2001. Highley and Newport groups both celebrated 10 years of operation this year and these four award winners have been at the forefront of schemes in Bridgnorth, Highley and Alverley.
Tracey Prosser (Church Stretton), Edmund Jones (Mardu, Clun) CFRs – Distinguished Service Award
People like Tracey undertake an exceptional number of hours on duty to ensure schemes like hers in Church Stretton remain active and fully operational.
Edmund is working equally hard to ensure the Clun Valley Automated External Defibrillator scheme (AED) is up and running in the most rural area of the Shropshire countryside.
Distinguished Service Award - CFR Administration Office based at Shrewsbury Ambulance Station
This award is made to the CFR office staff for the hard work and considerable endeavours behind the scenes in making the CFR schemes so successful across the Region. The award was collected on behalf of the department by Emma Wilkins, Community Response Manager for the Black Country
Ian Owen (Bucknell) – Chief Officer Commendation
Ian found himself in what must have been the most stressful and emotionally challenging position, having to attend his own sister in Cardiac Arrest. It was the first time he had to use a defibrillator for real since being trained. He was joined by a CFR from Leintwardine and working as a team they bought about a successful outcome. The patient is now back at home fit and well.
Martin Keegan (Market Drayton) CFR – Chief Officer Commendation
Martin has been an active member of the Market Drayton scheme since 2010. In May this year, he stopped to help a member of the public lying in the road. He selflessly put his own life in danger trying to alert the driver of a passing car to the incident. Unfortunately the man was injured by the car and Martin immediately assisted both the patient and by-standers until the arrival of other resources. This award is for showing exemplary restraint, compassion and professionalism throughout this difficult incident.
Julie Oliver and Roger Price (both of Ludlow) CFRs – Chief Officer Commendations
Julie and Roger have been CFRs since 2008. In March this year, Roger found himself in the most difficult and emotional position of attending his own mother in Cardiac Arrest. Roger and his CFR partner Julie worked as a team with the attending crew to obtain a response from Roger’s mother. Roger and Julie displayed great courage and conviction throughout what can only be described as an extremely traumatic incident for both of them.
WEST MIDLANDS AMBULANCE SERVICE OF THE YEAR AWARD - Ian Owen
It must be everyone’s absolute nightmare to have to attend to your own loved ones in distress. The incredible story and indeed truly successful outcome of a man treating his own sister – saving her life only in his first use of the life saving machine. Ian’s sister Mandy was at the ceremony.
