The most recent recipients of the prestigious Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal for Distinguished Service were announced in Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list last night (Friday 29 December 2017).
The Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (QAM) honours a very small, select group of ambulance personnel who have shown exceptional devotion to duty, outstanding ability, merit and conduct in their roles within NHS Ambulance Services. Today’s two recipients for England are:
Kuldip Bhamrah, an Ambulance Technician at East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust with 35 years’ ambulance service experience.
Diane Scott, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust with 31 years’ ambulance service experience.
In addition, three other QAMs have been awarded as follows:
- Mark Treherne, SORT Team Leader, East of Scotland Special Operations Response Team, Scottish Ambulance Service.
- David John, Advanced Paramedic Practitioner, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.
- Kath Charters, Clinical Data Specialist, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.
The recipients are now entitled to place the letters ‘QAM’ after their names, on occasions when the use of such letters is customary. In accordance with custom, the medals will be formally presented at an Investiture Ceremony later in the year.
Martin Flaherty OBE, Managing Director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) said:
“AACE is extremely proud of all ambulance staff who go that extra mile to care for patients and contribute to the development and progression of the ambulance service, at all levels. The QAM is a very prestigious award that recognises the hard work and dedication of some of our very best ambulance professionals and we warmly congratulate the latest recipients.”
The QAM was introduced in 2012 and the number of nominations in any one year may never exceed ten and includes up to four Medals for England, up to two Medals for Wales, up to two Medals for Scotland, up to one Medal for Northern Ireland and up to one Medal for the Channel Islands.
The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) is responsible for co-ordinating the nominations of QAMs in England, with nominations coming from Trusts and being seconded by their Chief Executives before being sent for consideration for final nomination by the AACE Board.