THE Welsh Ambulance Service has been celebrating its staff and volunteers at its annual awards ceremony.
More than a dozen awards were presented at Wednesday’s (Nov 30) virtual event to colleagues from every part of the service, in every corner of Wales.
Among them were accolades for Team of the Year, Inspiring Others and Learning and Innovation, as well as the Gail Williams Award for clinical excellence.
No less than four awards were presented to volunteers, including the Community First Responder of the Year Award and Volunteer Car Driver of the Year Award.
The Trust also commended colleagues for their efforts to promote the Welsh language.
Chief Executive Jason Killens said: “Working for the ambulance service is not just any job – it’s a job that makes a real difference.
“When people are at their lowest ebb, we are the people to whom they turn, and it takes remarkable people to do what our staff and volunteers do day in, day out.
“The WAST Awards give us an opportunity to celebrate everything that is great about this organisation, as well as the perfect chance to simply say ‘thank you’ – two words that mean so much.”
Chair Coin Dennis added: “It’s more important than ever to say a big thank you to our people, without whom Wales’ national ambulance service would simply not exist.
“Often, our people don’t realise that what they do is special, so the WAST Awards are an excellent way to shine a light on their work and recognise that effort.
“The calibre of nominations this year was superb, and while everyone is a worthy winner in our eyes, tonight’s finalists really are the best of our best.
“We heard some incredible stories as part of tonight’s ceremony, and I’d like to extend a huge and heartfelt congratulations to all of our winners.”
The winners of the WAST Awards 2022 are –
Emergency Medical Service Award
North: Scott Timbrell – Paramedic
Central and West: Huw Jackson – Health Board Clinical Lead
South East: Will Hedges – Senior Paramedic
Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service Award
Central and West: Craig Figgures – Operational Team Leader
South East: Caitlin Holvey – Ambulance Care Assistant
All Wales: Lyndon Powell – Quality Assurance Manager
Clinical Contact Centre Award
North: Jessica Hamblett – Site Manager
Central and West: Chris Jones – Clinical Contact Centre Systems Administrator
South East: Chloe Walkley – Clinical Contact Centre Trainer
Support Services Award
North: Catherine Wynn Lloyd – Organisational Development Project Support Officer
Central and West: Wendy Herbert – Assistant Director of Quality and Nursing
South East: Ian McMurtrie – Project Support Officer
Team of the Year Award
Clinical Contact Centre Concerns Team
Learning and Innovation Award
Elizabeth Price, Dewi Edwards and the 111 Quality, Safety and Patient Experience Team
Inspiring Others Award
North: William Dovey-Evans – Emergency Medical Technician
Central and West: Callum Palin – Planner/Controller
South East: Fi Kawe – Trainee Emergency Medical Technician
Great Listener Award
North: Sioned Ashworth – 111 Call Handler Co-ordinator
Central and West: Ruth Davies – 111 Call Handler Co-ordinator
South East: Elain Roberts – Call Taker Supervisor
Welsh Language Award
Cerrie Douglass – Clinical Support Desk Clinician
Community First Responder of the Year Award
Vaughn Richardson
Community First Responder Team of the Year Award
Tenby and South Pembrokeshire CFR Team
Volunteer Car Driver of the Year Award
Margaret Wright
Volunteer of the Year Award
Roger Marshall – Community First Responder
People’s Choice Award
Erika Davies – Emergency Medical Technician
Public Recognition Award
Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch Community Defibrillators Group
Gail Williams Award
Ross French – Advanced Paramedic Practitioner
Chair’s Award
Catrin Convery – Locality Manager
Chief Executive’s Award
Clinical Contact Centre Clinical Support Desk
