Isle of Wight Ambulance Service staff past and present, with a collective record of over 600 years’ service to the NHS, were recognised in a ceremony at Lakeside Hotel, Wootton Bridge last Thursday (20th July).
The Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight Lord Lieutenant Maj Gen Martin White CB CBE JP, along with Isle of Wight NHS Trust Interim Chief Executive Officer Maggie Oldham, presented the awards.
16 staff, who were able to attend, received the Long Service and Good Conduct medal. The medal is a long service medal of the United Kingdom established in 1995 and is awarded to members serving on emergency duty for 20 years or more. It is only awarded to ambulance technicians, paramedics and ambulance officers. Ambulance service officers must have served at least 7 years on emergency duty.
2 other staff (call handlers/dispatchers) within the ambulance service received a glass plaque engraved with the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service crest to honour their long service.
Chris Smith, Head of Ambulance and Clinical Director for Ambulance, Urgent Care and Community Services at Isle of Wight NHS Trust said:
“This is a fantastic achievement showing the dedication and loyalty of staff, recognition which is long overdue. Some of the incidents these staff have attended have been difficult to talk about so I’m pleased that we have been able to recognise their service in this way.”
Those recognised on the night include:
• Christine Martin – 31/03/1997 (Glassware recipient)
• Darron Howard – 01/08/1996
• Andy Martindale – 04/06/1994
• Nicholas Groocock – 22/05/1992
• Rachael Berry – 07/02/1992
• Michelle Cassell – 25/11/1991 (Glassware recipient)
• Linda Harbour – 19/10/1991
• Louise Richards – 28/08/1991
• Amanda Trigg – 01/02/1991
• Kate Elkington – 19/08/1988*
• Steven Goodchild – 19/01/1990
• Colette Hayward – 30/08/1989
• Alison Ball – 19/01/1989
• Paul Cassford – 02/05/1988
• David Arnold – 13/10/1987
• Paul Tomlinson – 07/07/1986*
• Teresa Pollard – 04/04/1986
• Shaun Carter – 21/03/1986
Unable to attend, but also recognised:
• Alistair Drover – 01/04/1996
• Andrew Jones1 – 01/09/1995
• Karen Venables – 01/02/1994 (Glassware recipient)
• Christine Evans – 19/06/1992
• Paul Ruszczyk – 01/04/1992
• Richard Price – 07/02/1992
• Graham Turner – 07/02/1992
• Lisa Thorpe – 13/09/1991
