South East Coast
Ambulance Service (SECAmb) staff, volunteers and members of the
public have gathered to celebrate long service and achievements in
the final of three awards ceremonies to be held by the Trust this
year.
The awards evening, which took place on Thursday 14 March at
Alexander House Hotel in Turners Hill, West Sussex, saw Chief
Executive Commendations presented across a range of categories
including Exceeding Expectations and Demonstrating Compassion,
while staff were recognised for 20, 30 as well as 40 years’
service.
The Deputy Lieutenant and High Sheriff of West Sussex, Caroline
Nicholls, attended as the Queen’s representative to present Queen’s
Long Service and Good Conduct medals to frontline A&E
staff.
Among those presented with Chief Executive Commendations were
Crawley-based Emergency Medical Advisors Charlotte Rogers and
Ashley Papworth for their quick thinking and actions when returning
home from a busy night shift, when they forced an erratic driver to
stop for fear they would cause an accident.
Gatwick Make Ready
Centre Manager, Susie Thum, and friend and former paramedic,
Lindsay Cranch, were recognised for their actions in providing CPR
to a man who had collapsed and went into cardiac arrest at a
holiday park in the New Forest.
Polegate Operational Team Leader Steph Meech received a CEO
commendation for her dedication to her role and commitment to the
LGBT agenda in the ambulance service at the same time coming out as
a transgender woman herself.
There was also a public commendation for three staff from
Freedom Leisure Centre in Crowborough who ensured a man, who
collapsed in cardiac arrest, received CPR and a shock with a
defibrillator, and was able to sit up and talk to his doctors soon
afterwards.
SECAmb Chief Executive Daren Mochrie said: “In this our third
awards ceremony this year, I was once again very humbled to
celebrate the long service and achievements of so many staff and
also thank members of the public for their actions in helping save
lives.
“Well done to every award winner and also thank you to the
friends and family of all our staff and volunteers who provide
vital support throughout what is a challenging career.
“Thank you to everyone for their continued dedication and
commitment to help others.”
Details of every award winner can be found below. Please
note that this is the third of three awards ceremonies so only
those staff named below received their awards on 14
March.
Chief Executive Commendations
Exceeding Expectations – Crawley-based
Emergency Medical Advisors Charlotte Rogers and Ashley Papworth for
their quick thinking and actions when returning home from a busy
night shift, when they forced an erratic driver to stop for fear
they would cause an accident.
Exceeding Expectations – Polegate Operational
Team Leader Steph Meech for her dedication to her role and
commitment to the LGBT agenda in the ambulance service at the same
time coming out as a transgender woman herself.
Exceeding Expectations – Gatwick Make Ready
Centre Manager, Susie Thum, and friend and former paramedic,
Lindsay Cranch, were recognised for their actions in providing CPR
to a man who had collapsed and went into cardiac arrest at a
holiday park in the New Forest.
Clinical Excellence and Quality Improvement:
Worthing crews, Kevin Fuller, Darren Curtis, Mark Griffiths and
Gemma Butler for their efforts as part of a team who responded to
an imminent birth emergency. (Please note Jamie Webb collected his
award at the Trust’s second awards ceremony in Surrey).
Demonstrating Compassion – Rebecca Francis,
Operational Team Leader, Polegate – For her commitment and
compassion in helping team member Steph Meech in her transition as
a transgender woman.
Demonstrating Compassion – Polegate clinicians,
Steve Thomas, Paul Simpson and Peter Morris for their compassion in
helping an end-of-life patient and his partner who were due to be
married, receive a blessing from a chaplain before the patient
passed away.
Public Commendation – Catherine Carlile and Bob
Watson for their actions in stepping up to save the life of a man
who had been stabbed in the leg in Crawley.
Public Commendation: Freedom Leisure Centre
Crowborough staff, James Stanyer-Fisher, Andy Smale and Nathan
Dadswell, who ensured a man, who collapsed in cardiac arrest,
received CPR and a shock with a defibrillator, and was able to sit
up and talk to his doctors soon afterwards.
Queen’s Ambulance Service medals for Long Service &
Good conduct (20 years) were presented to:
Andrew Cashman, Crawley
Andrew Hatter, Redhill
Catherine Miles, Haywards Heath
Caroline Flack, Polegate
Daniel Richards, Chichester
David Lashwood, Gatwick
Jenny Churchyard, Polegate
James Pavey, Crawley
Phil Lewis, Brighton
Marian Spence, Chichester
Raymond Mazhindu, Crawley
20 years NHS Long Service medals
Stephen Waters, Lewes
Victoria Bowkett, Crawley
Victoria Burtenshaw, Lewes
Nicola Brooks, Crawley
30 years NHS Long Service Award:
Andrew Cashman, Crawley
Bruce Davy, Polegate
Caroline Flack, Polegate
Philip Smith, Gatwick
Stephen Wood, Polegate
40 years NHS Long Service Award:
Ian Morrison, Polegate
Nicholas Bastin, Brighton