Ambulance heroes’ shortlist announced

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has unveiled its shortlist of ambulance heroes who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in 2016.

The Trust’s Beyond the Call of Duty awards are held annually to recognise the outstanding contribution of its 2,500 staff. Now in their fifth year, this year’s awards, which are sponsored by Ward Hadaway, saw its highest ever number of entries, with 294 nominations received.

The judging panel has now decided on its shortlist in the 12 award categories.

The shortlisted members of staff are as follows: 

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

• Susan Dixon, from Newcastle, who is a Station Support Operative for North Division
• Allyson Croucher, from Wallsend, who is a HR Advisor
• Lindsay Wardle, from Ouston, County Durham, who is a HR Advisor
• Audrey Traynor, from Dinnington, who works as a Recruitment Administrator
• Emma Bridge, from Whitley Bay, who works as a Recruitment Administrator

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

• Trevor Ulph, from Birtley, who works on the Patient Transport Service (PTS) based at Gateshead
• Amanda Graham, from Seaton Carew, who works from Hartlepool South as PTS Team Manager
• Alan Potts, from Bishopton, County Durham, who works as an Emergency Care Clinical Manager and Paramedic based in Bishop Auckland
• Dave Coogan, from Belford, who recently transferred to Ashington as a Rapid Response Paramedic after serving 25 years at Belford station

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

• Christopher Ward, from Darlington, who is in his final year as a Student Paramedic.
• 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
• Ben McAdam, from Consett, who is the Workforce Scheduling & Planning Analyst for the Operations Centre responsible for the Planning for Service Delivery of 999, 111 & PTS Call Operators as well as the Clinical Hub and Dispatching functions for Emergency Care & PTS Dispatching.
• Jessica Hepworth, from Newburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, who was formerly a Business Admin Apprentice working in the Clinical Department and has recently been successful in achieving 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.

• Martin Spruce, from Bamburgh, who is a Community First Responder in Seahouses
• Pam Clouston, from Rothbury, is a Community First Responder in her local area
• Gordon Findlay, from Stockton-on-Tees, is a volunteer car service driver For PTS
• Bill Fenwick, from Pelaw, is a volunteer car service driver For PTS

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

• Tom Cuthbertson, from Sunderland, who is a Student Paramedic based at Ryhope station
• Steve Roebuck, from Guisborough, who is a Paramedic based at Middlesbrough station
• Ian Scott, from Berwick upon Tweed, who is an Emergency Care Assistant based at Berwick station
• Ben Sargent, from Sacriston, who works as a Clinical Education and Development Officer

Contact 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. 

• Clare Garvey, from Gateshead, who is a Dispatcher 
• Karen Renwick, from Hebburn, who is a 111 and 999 Call Operator
• Karl Walker, from Sunderland, who is a Team Leader and also works as a Community First Responder
• Steven James, from Blaydon on Tyne, who works as a Workforce Scheduling & Planning Analyst

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. 

• Trevor Ulph, from Birtley, who is an Ambulance Care Assistant based at Gateshead station
• Alan McKay, from Chester-le-Street, who is an Ambulance Care Assistant based at Gateshead station
• Alan Jobson, from Newcastle, who works as a Development Training Officer
• Kristian Francis, from Stockton on Tees, who works as an Emergency Care Assistant based at Stockton station

Senior Manager – 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

• Claire Jobling, from Gateshead, who is an Operations Manager for Emergency Care Central Division
• Roy Taylor, from Bishop Auckland, who is an Operations Manager for PTS South Division.
• Clare Graham, from Sunderland, is an Emergency Care Clinical Manager and Paramedic.
• Neil Gatenby, from Hebburn, who is Recruitment Business Partner.

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. 

• Terry Durrant, from Stockton on Tees, who is an Ambulance Care Assistant on PTS based at Coulby Newham station
• Steve Schofield, from Chester-le-Street, who is a PTS Team Manager based at Gateshead station
• Geoff Bennett, from Pallion, who is an Ambulance Care Assistant on PTS based at Pallion station
• Ronnie Walton, from Esh Winning, who is a PTS Team Manager based at Stanley station
• Jackie Shaw, from Kiln Pitt Hill, who is an Ambulance Care Assistant on PTS based at Hexham station

Emergency Care Category - This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated a clear commitment to delivering compassionate care to patients and their families in an emergency care setting. 

• Joe Saunders, from Esh Winning, who is an Emergency Care Assistant based at Bishop Auckland station
• Tina Dyer, from Stockton on Tees, who is a Paramedic based at Redcar station
• Jan McLoughlin, from Normanby, who is a an Advanced Technician based at Redcar station
• Rebecca Hunter, from Leyburn, North Yorkshire, who is a Paramedic based at Hartlepool station
• Peter Dixon, from Consett, who is a recently retired Advanced Technician
• Anthony Murray, from Ashington, who is a an Emergency Care Assistant based at Wallsend station

Chief Executive of NEAS, Yvonne Ormston, said: “Working for an emergency service regularly means putting others first at the expense of personal and family lives both on the front line and in a supporting role. Our Beyond the Call of Duty Awards give us the chance to reward just a handful of those who provide amazing care, skill and dedication to patients every day.

“We’ve been overwhelmed at the number of nominations received this year – quite simply the highest number we’ve ever seen. It’s been fantastic to hear all the inspirational stories of those nominated and it was extremely difficult task to reach our shortlist.

“We are now looking forward to crowing the winners at our glittering awards ceremony in October.”

ENDS