West Midlands Ambulance Staff pick up awards

Chief Officer Commendations were awarded at the Long Service and Excellence Awards, sponsored by Celesio UK and Zoll UK Ltd. at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull on Thursday during which members of ambulance service staff received awards for long service and good conduct and retirement certificates.

Amongst those collecting awards were Critical Care Paramedics Kerry Hemus and Thomas Waters, and Dr. David Balthazor based at Midlands Air Ambulance at Cosford. They were part of a full medical team which saved a Shropshire farmer after metal spikes fitted to his tractor pierced his body. The farmer made a rapid recovery and has since returned to work on his farm.

Tom Waters also received an Outstanding Achievement Award after he volunteered to make the journey to Sierra Leone to help in the fight against Ebola with GOAL which is an international humanitarian organisation.

Edd Davis a Paramedic based in Shrewsbury was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award for promoting the work of the ambulance service to a wider audience through school visits and public displays in Shropshire.

Patricia Johnson, an Advanced Paramedic based in Craven Arms received a Chief Officer Commendation. Patricia and her crewmate were en-route to an emergency case when they actually witnessed the accident. They also assisted at the scene and treated the patient for serious injuries before the air ambulance arrived.

Chief Executive Anthony Marsh said:

“It is right that we take time out of our busy schedules to pause for a moment to reflect on all the great things that our staff, volunteers and colleagues from the other emergency services and our partners do to support the ambulance service in providing a really good service for the public and saving lives.”

Sir Graham Meldrum, Chairman of West Midlands Ambulance Service said:

“The awards we are giving today are all about the value that we place upon the people who are receiving those awards. Not only should the awards be given, it is like justice – they should also be seen to be given. We are here today to see awards given to people who will greatly value those awards. But also we, the public, also value what you do for us and the service that you give. And we are here today to witness that value being recognised publicly in the community. I thank you very much indeed for what you have done.”

Paul Sabapathy CBE, the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands who made presentations on behalf of the Queen, said:

“We are so fortunate in having you. We call the ambulance service when we are absolutely desperate. People are distressed and stressed out of their minds when they call you and you come there and deal with it and assure them and make sure that they are looked after.

"On behalf of Her Majesty, The Queen, on behalf of all the citizens here in the West Midlands, thank-you from the bottom of our hearts for what you do because you do a fantastic job.”