Ambulance heroes recognised at regional awards

Credit: PA

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has unveiled its shortlist of awards for those it says have gone 'over and beyond the call of duty'.

The Trust’s Beyond the Call of Duty awards are held annually to recognise the contribution of its 2,500 staff.

Now in their fifth year, this year’s awards saw the highest ever number of entries, with 294 nominations received.

Chief Executive of NEAS, Yvonne Ormston, said:

The winners include:

Outstanding Emergency Care – which recognises an individual who has demonstrated a clear commitment to delivering compassionate care to patients and their families in an emergency care setting.

  • Winner: Tina Dyer, from Stockton on Tees, who is a Paramedic based at Redcar station and Jan McLoughlin, from Normanby, who is a an Advanced Technician based at Redcar station

  • Highly commended: Joe Saunders, from Esh Winning, who is an Emergency Care Assistant based at Bishop Auckland station

Patient Transport Service – to reward an individual who has demonstrated a clear commitment to delivering compassionate care to patients and their families in a patient transport setting.

  • Winner: Terry Durant, from Stockton on Tees, who is an Ambulance Care Assistant on PTS based at Coulby Newham station.

  • Highly commended: Steve Schofield, from Chester-le-Street, who is a PTS Team Manager based at Gateshead station

Outstanding Support Services – an award recognising an individual who demonstrates an excellent level of support for internal and external customers.

  • Winner: Susan Dixon, from Newcastle, who is a Station Support Operative for North Division.

  • Highly commended: Audrey Traynor, from Dinnington, and Emma Bridge, from Whitley Bay, who work as a Recruitment Administrators.

Outstanding Mentor – for an educator within NEAS who educates, mentors and supports others to help them develop new skills.

  • Winner: Trevor Ulph, from Birtley, who works on the Patient Transport Service (PTS) based at Gateshead.

  • Highly commended: Amanda Graham, from Seaton Carew, who works from Hartlepool South as PTS Team Manager

Student of the Year – to recognise rising stars within the organisation, and someone who shows clear potential for the future

  • Winner: Kyle Peebles, from Gateshead, who was formerly a PTS Apprentice but is now a full time Ambulance Care Assistant for PTS based at Gateshead station.

  • Highly commended: Jessica Hepworth, from Newburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, who was formerly a Business Admin Apprentice working in the Clinical Department and recently appointed to a full time position as a Control Admin Assistant.

Volunteer of the Year - this award seeks to say thank you to an individual, whilst acknowledging the great service that all of NEAS’s volunteers provide.

  • Winner: Martin Spruce, from Bamburgh, who is a Community First Responder in Seahouses.

  • Highly commended: Pam Clouston, from Rothbury, is a Community First Responder in her local area.

Unsung Hero - recognising those who regularly go over and above what would normally be expected as part of their job role to make and strengthen community links.

  • Winner: Iain Scott, from Berwick upon Tweed, who is an Emergency Care Assistant based at Berwick station.

  • Highly commended: Tom Cuthbertson, from Sunderland, who is a Student Paramedic based at Ryhope station.

Operations Centre Award – for an individual who has demonstrated a clear commitment to delivering compassionate care to patients and their families in a contact centre setting.

  • Winner: Clare Garvey, from Gateshead, who is a Dispatcher.

  • Highly commended: Karen Renwick, from Hebburn, who is a 111 and 999 Call Operator.

Public nomination – an award nominated by patients or relatives to acknowledge a person or team who through their excellent care and approach made a significant impact.

  • Winner: Alan Jobson, from Newcastle, who works as a Development Training Officer.

  • Highly commended: Trevor Ulph, from Birtley, who is an Ambulance Care Assistant based at Gateshead station.

Senior Manager of the year – a new award introduced to recognise the vital role that effective managers and leaders have within the Trust and reward those who display leadership behaviours and inspire

  • Winner: Clare Graham, from Sunderland, is an Emergency Care Clinical Manager and Paramedic.

  • Highly commended: Claire Jobling, from Gateshead, who is an Operations Manager for Emergency Care Central Division.

Team of the year

  • Winner: Driver training

  • Highly commended: Proud at NEAS

Innovation of the year

  • Winner: Trauma Team

  • Highly commended: Integrated Care and Transport

Chairman’s award

  • Winner: Emergency care staff who worked together as a team responding to one of their own colleagues in Middlesbrough, Chris Allen, who collapsed and died whilst attending a patient earlier this year

Chairman Ashley Winter said: