Yorkshire Ambulance Service staff and volunteers recognised for outstanding achievements

Inspirational Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) staff and volunteers who have gone the extra mile for patients and colleagues were honoured at the Trust’s annual STARS Awards.

The event, held in Leeds on Thursday (7 November 2024), was an opportunity to celebrate exceptional achievements and recognise their ongoing commitment to providing the best care to the people of Yorkshire and supporting their colleagues and the wider YAS team.

Highlights included staff who were recognised for their bravery in a firearms incident, a crew who helped to rescue a patient who had fallen into a river and a colleague who works with rough sleepers to better understand barriers to accessing the ambulance service.

Peter Reading, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “This event is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible work of our staff and volunteers, and some of their achievements over the last year - whether they work on the frontline or provide valuable support services.

“We heard some truly inspirational stories of those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and made a difference to the lives of patients and colleagues across our region. It’s very important that we recognise these achievements and take the time to say well done and thank-you in person.”

There were 120 nominations which were reviewed by panels of judges who had the difficult job of selecting individuals and teams to be shortlisted.

The event was sponsored by Goole-based O&H Vehicle Conversions and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity.

2024 winners

Care Together Award

Winner: Lisa Thompson and Andrew Rollin – Patient Transport Service Ambulance Care Assistants, Brough

Lisa and Andrew were tasked with taking a patient home following a stay in hospital. They met the patient’s wife, who explained that she was struggling to care for her husband. The crew went above and beyond to ensure the couple received the necessary support, as well as staying to help move the patient and get him settled for the night. Lisa and Andrew’s actions that day showed determination and persistence beyond their job role.

Lead Together Award

Winner: Jock Crawford - Team Leader, South Yorkshire

Jock has had a huge impact on many colleagues – he is described as ‘the definition of what a Team Leader and Area Operations Manager should be’. Jock goes above and beyond for every member of staff - he has shown courage, commitment, integrity, and is a wonderful role model.

Grow Together Award

Winner: Annabel Law - Paramedic, Hoyland

Annabel has repeatedly gone out of her way to organise well-attended learning activities for her colleagues, initially at her station, but expanding these across South Yorkshire, and then Yorkshire-wide. She is well regarded as a friend, mentor and role model for newly qualified paramedics.

Excel Together Award

Winner: Safeguarding Rapid Process Improvement Workshop (RPIW) and Sexual Safety Charter Team for making significant improvements to the way the Trust manages safeguarding issues.

Everyone Together Award

Winner: Sasha Bipin - Community Engagement Officer

Sasha is focused on ensuring that her work with community groups is as inclusive as possible. She works with groups, such as rough sleepers, to better understand what barriers there are when accessing the ambulance service. She is also keen to give young people with learning disabilities the opportunity to learn new skills.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Winner: Stephanie Toone - Patient Safety Partner, Critical Friends Network Volunteer

Steph volunteers as a Critical Friend, supporting the Trust with service developments. Her passion for making a positive impact always shines through and she is consistently demonstrating the qualities of empathy, dedication and excellence. Steph is keen to ensure that the Trust is a learning organisation, and is solution focused in helping services to improve.

Team of the Year Award

Winner: A&E crews at York Hospital

The care that patients receive by the A&E crews at York Hospital, and the support they provide each other, has been described as ‘outstanding’ with an ‘amazing attitude and professionalism’.

Chief Executive’s Commendations

Paul Gray and Morgan Starkey, Patient Transport Service (Bradford)

Paul and Morgan were flagged down by a police officer, who asked them to help a member of the public in cardiac arrest. They did CPR and used their defibrillator until the A&E crew arrived. Paul and Morgan acted quickly and professionally and are a credit to the PTS team.

Dulcie Mudd and Lucy Omond, A&E East Yorkshire

Dulcie and Lucy were called to a challenging incident involving a patient in a mental health crisis. The crew - along with the police - rescued the patient, who had fallen into water. The selfless crew showed professionalism and compassion.

Hazardous Area Response Team (HART)

Six Leeds-based HART team members responded to an ongoing siege with a firearms threat during which a patient had suffered significant injuries, requiring the team to undertake a surgical airway procedure. Their teamwork, professionalism and composure in this challenging situation was admirable and a credit to the Trust.