NEAS remembers: colleagues pay tribute at Remembrance events across the region and beyond
Colleagues from North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) will attend Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday services across the North East and nationally this November to honour the service and sacrifice of members of the Armed Forces community.
Staff from emergency operations, urgent and emergency care, patient transport services and corporate support teams will take part in commemorative events and lay wreaths on behalf of the trust, alongside partners from the emergency services, military organisations and local communities.
NEAS is proud to employ more than 400 veterans, reservists and serving military personnel and is one of only a select number of NHS organisations nationally to achieve both Veteran Aware accreditation and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award.
Having signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2020, the trust has continued to strengthen its support for the Armed Forces community, creating employment opportunities, promoting inclusive policies and recognising the valuable skills veterans and reservists bring to frontline healthcare.
Colleagues from the trust will be attending services and events in London, Durham, Cramlington, Yarm, Amble, Consett, Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle, Whickham, Beamish, Guisborough, Newcastle, Skelton, Sedgefield, Sunderland, Prudhoe, Hexham, Longbenton, Thornaby and Morpeth.
Karen Gardner, Deputy Director of People Development at NEAS, said:
"Remembrance provides an important opportunity for us to come together and honour the courage, commitment and sacrifice of those who have served our country, as well as those who continue to serve today.
"As an organisation, we are incredibly proud of the many veterans, reservists and military personnel who are part of the NEAS family. Their skills, professionalism and experience make a significant contribution to the care we provide every day.
"We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces community and ensuring their service is recognised, not only during Remembrance events, but throughout the year."
One colleague representing NEAS on the national stage this year is advanced practitioner paramedic David Graham, who will attend the prestigious Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 7 November, which will be televised by the BBC.
David said: "I have just entered my 39th year in the trust - prior to this I was in the British Army and served in Germany & Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Kenya, Portugal and glamorous Blackpool! I think representing my organisation and remembering those who have served in various conflicts throughout the world will probably be the pinnacle of my time with NEAS."
Elsewhere in London, paramedic Josh Plumpton will represent the ambulance sector at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph as one of only six ambulance service representatives invited to take part.
Josh said: "I feel immense pride in going back to where my military career began. One of my first official ceremonial parades was the Remembrance Day parade in London in 2007, so it's going to be amazing to be back.
On Remembrance Day, colleagues at NEAS headquarters, Bernicia House, and at the trust's education and training facilities will join communities across the country in observing the national two-minute silence at 11am.
To find out more about how NEAS supports veterans, reservists and the wider Armed Forces community, visit: www.neas.nhs.uk/join-team-neas/our-offer/veterans.