Ambulance service volunteers recognised in awards ceremony
The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) celebrated the hard work and dedication of hundreds of volunteers who have supported the region’s patients throughout the years at their annual volunteer’s awards.
Over 250 North East residents who volunteer their spare time to support North East Ambulance Service patients and employees were recognised last night (Wednesday 7 June) at a ceremony at the Royal Station Hotel, Newcastle, organised by the NHS Foundation Trust.
The celebrations concluded a week-long campaign to celebrate the nationally recognised Volunteers Week (1-7 June) and recruit for more community first responders, ambulance care service drivers, and porters.
Among those who attended were 47 volunteers from across the service who have celebrated service of two years or more, including two extraordinary people (ambulance car service drivers John Buxton and Ronald McPartland) who have each volunteered for over 15 years helping those in need. Also in attendance were two community ambassadors from our community outreach projects.
The volunteer cohort are made up of four unique roles which benefit the service in a number of ways:
- 108 community first responders who are based across the region and are trained to deal with emergencies prior to the arrival of an ambulance; over the last year they have attended over 576 incidents and have collectively volunteered over 47,000 hours for the service in 2022/23, and respond to serious emergencies such as cardiac arrests
- 129 ambulance car service drivers who in the past year alone have transported over 90,000 patients and have travelled over 3.5million miles using their own vehicles to drive patients to and from appointments at hospital, which helps keep ambulances free for emergencies and patients who are too poorly to travel by car.
- 19 hospital porters who work across the regions hospitals and are the first point of contact for non-life-threatening patients once they arrive at hospital; allowing ambulance crews to get back on the road and respond to more emergencies
- 104 community ambassadors who work alongside our engagement team and within their local communities to raise awareness of our services and life-saving skills like CPR; this work includes hosting CPR and defibrillator sessions to increase the general public’s knowledge of bystander CPR
NEAS chief executive officer, Helen Ray, said: “It isn’t often that we get to celebrate the achievements of our volunteers; two of whom this year are celebrating 15 years of voluntary service to our organisation. Working as hard as ever, over the last year they have provided life-changing care for a number of our patients across the region, and it is an honour to be able to recognise and thank them for this.
“Volunteer’s Week has highlighted only a small percentage of the work that these incredible people do; selflessly and in their own time. I cannot thank them and our volunteer's team enough for the work they have done, and that they continue to do.”
Find out how you can volunteer with NEAS here: /get-involved/volunteering-opportunities.aspx
For details of our outstanding achievement volunteers, please see the notes to editors.
Notes to editors
For more information, contact the NEAS press office on 07559 918672 or email publicrelations@neas.nhs.uk
Outstanding achievement volunteers:
David Cairns, 49, Hartlepool, Teesside
We recognised community first responder (CFR) David Cains for going above and beyond the call of duty when he was called to an incident at Throston golf club via the GoodSam app – he wasn’t on duty as a CFR at the time. When David arrived, there was good bystander CPR in progress. David used his defib and continued until the crew arrived, which included David’s son Elis – this was Elis’ first week on the road as a qualified CCA. David showed great professionalism throughout which was acknowledge by the specialist paramedic that was also on scene. Thanks to David the patient was taken to hospital and David has heard that he was expected to make a full recovery.
“I think it is great that we are recognised and that everyone does an amazing job. I’m really pleased to have received this award.”
Tony Jackson, 29, Toronto, County Durham
We also recognised community first responder (CFR) Tony Jackson after he was recently called out to his very first CFR job and arrived at the same time as our paramedics. He supported the patient’s resuscitation with professionalism, performing CPR. The paramedics wanted it to be recorded that Tony is a credit to the CFR team and that all crew members on scene, from the specialist paramedic to clinical care assistant were extremely impressed with his support.
“I’m part of the Rotary Club in a voluntary sense, which has a mission motto of ‘service above self’. I try to live by that. If I can help people in need and give a little back, that’s why I do it.
“I’m shocked to have received an award! I just do a job and didn’t expect to receive anything. I received a lovely letter from one of the NEAS team after my very first Category 1 call out, and it made me feel part of the NHS team.”
Jez Browne, 56, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead
Ambulance car service (ACS) driver Jez Brown was recognised for the level of care and compassion that he possesses, reflected in the four written appreciations this year alone from patients who have taken the time to get in touch with us to express their thanks and gratitude for the care and kindness that he has provided them with during their journeys.
“I started on recommendation by a friend who also volunteers and who told me about the role. It's nice to be out helping the community because I’m a people person. I especially liked helping during the pandemic when people really needed our help.
“I am completely speechless about receiving an award and very pleased; things like this don’t normally happen to me! I don’t do it for the recognition. It’s lovely meeting people and making their lives easier during perhaps troubling times. It’s fantastic doing the job.”
Peter Breward, 62, Cramlington, Northumberland
Peter Breward was recognised at our awards ceremony after he acted with calmness and professionalism when a patient he recently picked up from their home, suddenly became very unwell. Peter called 999 and got the patient to his unit within minutes to receive oxygen whilst the paramedics arrived to take over.
“I do the volunteering as a pay back to the NHS for saving my life twice.
“I am proud to volunteer, proud to receive an award, and proud of what I do and being part of the North East Ambulance Service.”
John Buxton, 69, Cramlington, Northumberland
The longest volunteer service we celebrated this week was John Buxton, an ambulance car service volunteer.
In total, John has volunteered with our service for 15 years.
“The volunteer role was recommended to me by a friend who was already a volunteer driver and who said it was great and that he loved doing it. I subsequently found this to be exactly the case!
“No recognition is actually needed for what I have done, but nonetheless I am very pleased to receive an award.”
Michael Featherstone, Alex Marshall, and Daniel Thompson
Remarkably we have volunteer porters who have in the past year given up their time to assist NEAS with in excess of 2500 hours. They are a stable sight especially within Newcastle hospitals and assist the crews and volunteers with patients. They also ensure that patients are taking care of whilst waiting for their transport by chatting to them and making them feel at ease.
Tzs Kin Patrick Sun and Ambreen Nawaz
Tzk Kin Patrick Sun and Ambreen Nawaz were recognised for two years of volunteering as community ambassadors.
They have helped us to raise awareness of our services, challenge myths, teach people lifesaving skills and support people into employment. Over the last 12 months they have helped to deliver some of the sessions reaching 2,174 people in ethnic minority communities across the region.
About North East Ambulance Service
North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) covers 3,200 square miles across the North East region. It employs more than 2,900 staff and serves a population of 2.7 million people by handling all NHS 111 and 999 calls for the region, operating patient transport and ambulance response services, delivering training for communities and commercial audiences and providing medical support cover at events.
NEAS has 55 ambulance stations and covers 3,230 square miles. It has three emergency operation centres based in Newcastle, Hebburn and Wynyard. It operates 175 double crewed vehicles and 220 patient transport vehicles as well as 45 rapid response cars, a fleet of support vehicles including driver training and specialist vehicles for the Hazardous Area Response Team.