South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS
Foundation Trust (SECAmb) staff were joined by volunteers and
members of the public at the second of the Trust’s annual award
ceremonies.

The ceremony, for the west of SECAmb’s
region, was held on Thursday 9 March at Woodlands Park Hotel, near
Cobham, Surrey.

 

The event saw staff recognised for long
service and Chief Executive’s Commendations awarded across a range
of categories including clinical excellence, patient care and for
actions above and beyond the call of duty.

The Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey, Charles
Fowler, attended as the Queen’s representative to present Queen’s
Medals for 20 years’ frontline service and good conduct, while
Trust staff were also recognised for 20 years, 30 years, 40 years
and in the case of recently retired Brian Smith from Redhill, an
amazing 50 years’ NHS service.

Having joined the ambulance service in 1966,
Brian’s career moved full circle and recently ended on the patient
transport service. Always working in the Surrey area, Brian career
has included periods serving Dorking, Godstone and Gatwick.

In summing up his career he said: “I’ve helped
save lives and even deliver babies. These moments make everything
worth it and that’s why I did the job – you never knew what to
expect.”

Member of public and School Business Manager
at Peter Gladwin Primary School, Portslade, East Sussex, Christine
Kidman was recognised for her actions in providing life-saving CPR
to a seven-year-old pupil – just 24 hours after completing a CPR
refresher course.

And another four members of public from the
Warlingham area were recognised for their actions in saving the
life of Warlingham man John Sinkins at Whyteleafe Railway Station.
The bystanders, who started CPR and used a public access
defibrillator, were reunited with John and his wife Inder for the
first time on the night.

Elsewhere, Kate Nebbett, Dispatch Team Leader
at the Trust’s Surrey Emergency Operations Centre in Banstead
picked up a commendation for her actions in stopping to help when
she saw a car off a road and smoking down an embankment near
Horsham, West Sussex.

Co-responding fire crews from Walton and
Sevenoaks picked up awards for their crucial role in attending
patients suffering cardiac arrests while a team of Goldalming
clinicians were recognised for their skill, professionalism and
calmness when attending an 18-month old in respiratory arrest.

SECAmb Acting Chief Executive David
Hammond said: “It is always extremely humbling to hear of the
incredible stories highlighted at our awards each year. These are
just a handful of examples of the amazing work which is going on
every day across our region. It is also great to celebrate the long
service of so many staff and for us to be able to recognise the
dedication shown by volunteers including our vital Community First
Responders.”

Details of every award winner can
be found below – for further information on each award please see
the awards
booklet.

Chief Executive Commendations

 

Clinical Excellence – Barry Armour, Paramedic
Practitioner, Redhill – For championing the work of palliative care
teams locally and for his volunteer work to gain valuable
experience in this challenging subject.

Clinical Excellence –
Godalming clinicians, Eloise Sabbara, Paramedic; Grace Harman,
Student Paramedic; Ian King, Associate Practitioner; James Cowie,
Paramedic; Oliver Fitzgerald, Student Paramedic; Samuel Garman,
Clinical Team Leader – For their skill, professionalism and
calmness when attending an 18-month old in respiratory arrest in
November 2015.

Clinical Excellence –
Madeleine Howley, Paramedic Ashford, Kent; Julia Gasking, Ambulance
Technician, Ashford, Kent; John Sweeney – Clinical Team Leader,
Ashford, Nick Harrison – Critical Care Paramedic, Paddock Wood,
Mick Carter – Critical Care Paramedic, Gatwick –  For their
clinical excellence in treating a man who had been stabbed outside
a pub in Ashford.

Above and Beyond the Call of
Duty – Kate Nebbett – Dispatch Team Leader, Banstead
Emergency Operations Centre – For her actions in stopping to help
when she saw a car off a road and smoking down an embankment near
Horsham, West Sussex.

Above and Beyond the Call of
Duty – Sisters and Emergency Medical Advisors, Banstead
EOC, Chloe Gardner and Joanne Ashworth – for their actions in
stopping and starting CPR when they came across an RTC in which a
motorcyclist had been seriously injured on the M25.

Outstanding Patient Care
– Matt Webb, Paramedic, Epsom and Kathryn Cowley, Paramedic,
Gatwick – for their actions and clinical interventions after coming
across a serious RTC on the M3.

Outstanding Patient Care –
Kent Fire and Rescue Sevenoaks firefighters, Danny Barratt, Jason
Jones and David Ratcliffe – for the clinical treatment provided
when co-responding to reports a man was under a car and not
breathing.

Outstanding Patient Care –
Surrey Fire and Rescue firefighters, Walton station, Eric Daniels,
Will Keenan, Barry Culver and Colin Francis – for the clinical
treatment provided when co-responding to a patient in cardiac
arrest in Walton.

Public Commendation –
Christine Kidman, School Business Manager, Peter Gladwin Primary
School, Portslade, East Sussex – for providing life-saving CPR to a
seven-year-old pupil – just 24 hours after completing a CPR
refresher course.

Public Commendation – To a
group of Warlingham area members of the public – PC Stuart
Longmire, Ruth Harper, Jon Hill and Charlotte Bruce – for their
quick thinking and actions in providing CPR and using a public
access defibrillator on a man who collapsed at Whyteleafe Railway
Station.

Employee of the Year – Kim
Blakeburn, Dispatcher, Quality Team, Banstead – for her dedication
and hard work in improving the recruitment process for new
Emergency Medical Advisors.

 
Queen’s Ambulance Service medals for Long Service &
Good conduct were presented to:

 

  • Shaun Baron, Critical Care Paramedic,
    Worthing
  • Richard Brackenbury, Paramedic Practitioner,
    Tangmere
  • Chris Britton, Retired Paramedic,
    Horsham
  • Steven Burdon, Paramedic, Polegate
  • Stuart Dallas, Clinical Supervisor,
    Banstead
  • Sue Humphries, Paramedic, EOC Lewes
  • Duncan Jones, Clinical Operations Manager,
    Gatwick
  • Andrew Kinder, Clinical Team Leader,
    Gatwick
  • James Laidlaw, Clinical Team Leader,
    Walton
  • Damien Lau-Kee, Clinical Team Leader,
    Chertsey
  • Steve Mackenzie, Paramedic, Worthing
  • Cheryl McCormick, Clinical Team Leader,
    Leatherhead
  • Caryll Overy, Paramedic, Haywards Heath
  • David Strudwick, Paramedic Practitioner,
    Redhill
  • Neil Swain, Paramedic, Epsom
  • Paul Trevains, Clinical Supervisor, Banstead
    EOC

 

20 years’ NHS Long Service
medals (for staff not eligible to receive Queen’s
Medal)

  • Marie Clifford, PALS, Lewes
  • Linda Cripps, Retired, CEO Office, Lewes

 

30 years’ NHS Long Service
Award:

  • Philip Coles, Ambulance Technician,
    Worthing
  • David Keeley, Paramedic, Polegate
  • Christopher Neal, Clinical Team Leader,
    Gatwick

 

40 years’ NHS Long Service
Award:

  • Carol Boakes, PTS Control, Dorking

 

50 years’ NHS Long Service
Award:

  • Brian Smith, Retired, Surrey (Dorking,
    Godstone, Gatwick)

 

Community First Responders 10 years’
Long Service Award

  • John Kempton MBE, Oxted
  • Alison Law, Steyning
  • David Nelson, Pulborough and West
    Chiltington
  • Christine Peters, Steyning
  • Richard Taylor, Farnborough

 

Full details of ALL winners at both events can be found in the
Awards page in Our Successes.