Honouring decades of care: ambulance colleagues recognised for their service

The Ambulance Service (Emergency Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct ceremony took place on Monday, 23 March, at the Grand Hotel Gosforth Park, where colleagues, friends and families came together to celebrate this month’s Medal recipients.

Issued under Royal Warrant, the medals honour ambulance personnel who have completed 20, 30 or 40 years of service in emergency care, including emergency operations centre staff and others who make a direct impact on patient care.

Medals are awarded to colleagues when they achieve 20 years’ service, with bars then awarded to those reaching 30 and 40 years.

The medals and bars were presented by The Vice Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Robin Brims, on behalf of His Majesty the King.

He said: “It’s a great privilege to be able to present medals like this and to be able to hear the citations, which tell you about a huge amount of commitment and some wonderful stories. I think it’s really important to recognise people for their service.”

NEAS chief executive Kev Scollay said: “Working for North East Ambulance Service is so much more than a job, and each of our recipients has helped save countless lives, as well as supporting families and strengthening the communities we serve.

“These medals recognise decades of commitment to the North East, and provide us with an opportunity to thank them for their dedication.

“I am immensely proud of each of our colleagues honoured today. Their dedication embodies what it means to be part of Team NEAS, and we are grateful for everything they have contributed to this organisation and to the region.”

One of the colleagues receiving a medal was paramedic Jill Harries, who lives and works in Cramlington. She joined the ambulance services as an advanced technician in 2005.

She said: “The thing I love most about my job is being able to make a difference. When most people call 999, it can be the most frightening moment in their lives. When we arrive, you can hear and often see the relief on their faces as they put their trust in us. It can be an incredibly rewarding job at times from lives that are saved, lives that were sadly lost and bringing new life into the world. You never know what your next job will bring.

“Receiving this medal is a proud moment for me and my family, in recognition of the service I have given.”

March 2026 long‑service medal recipients include:

20 years of service
Alex Robbins

Fiona McClelland

Joanna Grey

Craig McPhail

Jill Harries

Peter Robson

Annette White

Dougy Ternant

Helen Roebuck

30 years of service
Bryan Hesp

40 years of service

Robin Percy (also receiving his bar for 30 years)

Here’s more information about some of our recipients:

Joanna Grey – 20 years

Joanna, of Hebburn, joined the ambulance service in 2002 as an emergency medical systems operator, answering the region’s 999 calls. She now supervises the dispatch team at the service’s operations centres in Newcastle and Hebburn.

“A stand-out memory for me was delivering my first baby over the phone in my first week,” she said. “It was a girl and they called her Sarah.

“When I first started no one had mobile phones, and we were nowhere near as busy as we are now.

“It means a lot to receive my medal and be recognised for my service.”

Craig McPhail – 20 years

Craig, who lives in Blyth, joined the ambulance service as a call handler in 2004, before moving into the dispatch team. He is now a critical care dispatcher, based at the service’s emergency operations centre in Newcastle, responsible for ensuring the most critically unwell patients receive an appropriate ambulance response and care quickly.

“I enjoy my job as I feel I can really make a difference to our most critically unwell patients on a daily basis, as well as dealing with large scale/complex incidents which can be quite challenging but very rewarding,” he said.

“The service has changed massively in the years I have been employed at NEAS. When I first started I was one of only six to eight people taking calls for the whole North East at any one time, compared to now I couldn’t tell you how many people take calls!

“You take it for granted when you come to work but events like this really put it into perspective. It’s a real achievement.”

Jill Harries – 20 years

Paramedic Jill, who lives and works in Cramlington, joined the ambulance services as an advanced technician in 2005.

Reflecting on her career, she said the most noticeable difference has been the increased demand on the service, with rising patient numbers and increased case complexity.

“Being part of the green family is a special privilege,” she said.

“I have worked alongside some wonderful colleagues, including some who are sadly no longer with us. Some of these colleagues have become my best friends who are always supportive, trustworthy, accepting without judgement, and are just there when I need them.

“The thing I love most about my job is being able to make a difference. When most people call 999, it can be the most frightening moment in their lives. When we arrive, you can hear and often see the relief on their faces as they put their trust in us. It can be an incredibly rewarding job at times from lives that are saved, lives that were sadly lost and bringing new life into the world. You never know what your next job will bring.

“Receiving this medal is a proud moment for me and my family, in recognition of the service I have given.”

Annette White – 20 years

Annette, of Norton, has worked in the NHS for 32 years, the last 23 years with the ambulance service. She started as a technician in 2003 and progressed to paramedic in 2017. She is based at Hartlepool South station.

“I’ve made many special memories throughout my career – too many to mention – but delivering babies has to be one the greatest achievements and is the best feeling,” she said.

“I’ve seen many changes throughout the years and mentored many students and it is great to see them graduate and go on to be confident in their role. Getting this medal means a lot to me, it’s an achievement in my career and an honour to receive it.”

Dougy Ternant – 20 years

Paramedic Dougy lives in Blyth, where he has also been stationed for the last 15 years.

Stand out memories for him including delivering a number of babies and taking part in a BBC documentary about binge drinking.

Reflecting on his career, he noted the increased demand on the service over the years and changing expectations of the public.

 “The part I love most about my job is being able to help people at their lowest ebb, being able to offer them some reassurance that all will be ok and administering analgesics when required to ease their symptoms,” he added.

“I’m proud to receive my medal in recognition for the service I’ve given.”

Helen Roebuck – 20 years

Helen, of Stockton, followed in her father’s footsteps in joining the ambulance service.

Her ambulance career began on the patient transport service in Hartlepool in August 2000. Having been persuaded by her colleagues, she joined the emergency side of the ambulance service in 2001, initially as a trainee technician in Middlesbrough before progressing onto the advanced technician role and qualifying as a paramedic in 2007, where she worked out of Redcar. She is now based in Grangetown.

“I love the variety of jobs we attend and altogether being able to help people,” she said. “No two shifts are the same.

“I’ve also made long-lasting friendships with my green family. It means a great deal to receive this award, and to be recognised for the years of work I have achieved.”

Peter Robson – 20 years 

Peter, who is based at Hexham, joined the ambulance service in 2005 as an advanced technician and qualified as a paramedic four years later.

He said: “I have made many friends whom I hope to be in touch with for many years to follow.

“Despite some challenges throughout the years, Covid 19 for one, I do feel this role suited me, my personality, experience and learned skills – why else would you stay for 20 years?

“I have seen how the service has and continues to evolve, hopefully for the benefit of our patients first and foremost, and how the paramedic role in society is being upskilled, it can only be a good thing.

“I do feel proud of the fact I've spent my career in the ambulance service and hope to continue for a few more years yet.”

Fiona McClelland – 20 years

Fiona joined the ambulance service as an advanced technician in 2004 before qualifying as a paramedic four years later. After returning from maternity leave with her second daughter, she took a role as a clinician within the emergency operations centre and moved into her current role as a clinical call auditor in 2019.

She lives and works in Newcastle.

Bryan Hesp – 30 years

Bryan, who lives in Morpeth, joined what was then Northumbria Ambulance Service in 1990 before undertaking his technician training and eventually his paramedic training.

As well as supporting patients in the North East, his career took him briefly to Scottish Ambulance Service, where he worked on the Isle of Skye.

He is now an ambulance support practitioner, based in Amble.

“It’s an honour to receive my medal,” he said. “It only feels like yesterday when I started. The last 35 years have been a pleasure, there have obviously been some hard times but the hard times make the good times even better.”

Robin Percy – 30 and 40 years

Robin, who lives in Whitley Bay, with his wife and daughter, joined what was then Northumbria Ambulance Service in 1980 as an ambulance technician after he was made redundant from his job as a mechanic, following his father Robert into the service.

He remained an advanced technician until 2022, when he hung up his epaulettes to support his colleagues, working as a station support officer.

A stand out memory for the 68-year-old was receiving the Daily Star Gold Award along with a colleague for delivering a baby in an overturned vehicle, and having the family name the baby after him.

“I still remember going to pick up my uniform on my first day,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

“My father did 46 years and always said I’d never beat him but I was always determined to – and I’ll have beaten him in September! I’m proud I’ve done a job I’ve stuck at for my whole career, and I think he would have been proud to see my get my medal, it’s a show of achievement for my service.”