Ambulance service staff honoured for more than 240 years of service to the North East

The Ambulance Service (Emergency Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct ceremony took place at the Grand Hotel Gosforth Park in Newcastle on Wednesday 22 October, where colleagues, friends, and families gathered to celebrate this year’s recipients.

The medals, issued under Royal Warrant, recognise ambulance personnel who have worked in emergency care for 20 or more years. This year marks the first time the criteria also includes emergency operations centre staff (including 999 health advisors, dispatchers, and clinicians) and other roles that have a direct impact on emergency patient care. In addition, for the first time, those with 30 and 40 years of service received a plate to display above their original medal, recognising their extended dedication.

The medals were presented by Vice Lord Lieutenant Lt. General Robin Brims on behalf of His Majesty the King, honouring colleagues who have devoted decades of their lives to supporting patients and communities across the region.

Chief executive Kev Scollay said: “It’s an absolute privilege to celebrate our colleagues who have devoted decades of their lives to caring for the people of the North East. Their dedication, skill, and compassion ensure that patients receive the best possible care in their time of need.”

From frontline ambulance crews to emergency operations centre (EOC) colleagues, this year’s recipients represent the full breadth of the service’s expertise and commitment to emergency patient care. In 2024/25, NEAS health advisors answered over 1.4 million emergency 999 and NHS 111 calls, supporting more than 37,900 patients over the phone. Emergency ambulance crews transported over 280,000 patients to hospital and treated more than 139,700 patients in the community, reflecting the scale and complexity of modern pre-hospital care.

Among this year’s recipients was Andy Bell, from Whitley Bay, who joined NEAS in 2000 as a 999 call handler. Now an EOC duty manager, Andy has seen the service transform from paper maps and radio dispatch to advanced CAD systems and live vehicle tracking. A much-loved member of the EOC team, Andy was also awarded the Chairman’s Award at the 2017 Beyond the Call of Duty Awards for his outstanding contribution.

“The EOC can be tough,” Andy said. “But camaraderie, humour, and teamwork make it worthwhile. Knowing the work we do directly impacts patient care drives me every day.”

Northumberland-based sisters Gail Brown and Kerry Auld also celebrated the milestone together. Both joined NEAS in 1990; Gail as a communi-com operator and Kerry through the GatDoc pilot scheme. Gail’s medal recognises her time on 999 before moving into other roles, while Kerry’s celebrates her frontline service as a clinical care assistant.

“There have been so many memories and lots of laughs while dealing with some of the most challenging situations,” said Gail. “I’m proud that colleagues in these roles are now recognised for the vital contribution they make to supporting frontline teams and patients.”

Kerry added: “I feel proud to be recognised. I hope my family sees it’s worth the missed birthdays and Christmases over the years.”

Lynn Huldie is the service’s head of dispatch in the emergency operations centre. For the first time, she joined her EOC and frontline heads of service to represent health advisors, dispatchers, and clinicians in the ceremony.  

She said: “It’s a real honour to see our emergency operations centre colleagues recognised alongside their frontline counterparts for the first time. Every call taken, every decision made, plays a vital role in saving lives and it’s fantastic to see that contribution formally celebrated today.”

Kev concluded: “Today we celebrate not just medals, but decades of service, dedication, and care. Each of these colleagues has touched lives, supported families, and contributed to the safety and wellbeing of communities across the North East. Their work is the very heart of NEAS, and it’s a joy to be able to recognise them for their contributions to our service.”

Congratulations to all of this year’s medal recipients, and thank you for everything you’ve given – and continue to give – to our patients, our teams, and our communities.