PARAMEDICS, 999 call handlers and other ambulance workers were honoured for their efforts tonight (Friday, October 9).

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) staff were recognised at the Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Awards, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham.

A record 250 nominations were made, by patients, members of the public and other NEAS workers.

Paramedic Bernie Wells won the Emergency Care award, while Heather Crosbie, also a paramedic, won the Unsung Hero award for her work in raising awareness of dangerous driving among 16- to 23-year-olds.

Karen Gardner won the Chairman’s Award for the most outstanding nomination for her work in recruiting and training more than 50 Emergency Care Clinical Managers.

The other winners were: Jim Furnevel, Patient Transport Services; Craig Foster, Contact Centre; Sheelagh Davies, Support Services; Philip Baxter, Mentor of the Year; Leanne Humberstone, Student of the Year; Recruitment, Team of the Year; Colin Davison, Public Nomination; and Tracy Sinton, Services to the Community.

Seven people also received the Queen’s Medal for good conduct in the service for more than 20 years. They were: Iain Buglass, Barry Dixon, David Graham, Steven Hampson, Allison Home, Mark Huddlestone, Neville Jones, Peter Leach, Daryen Lemmon, Sharon Monaghan, Neil Murray, Tracy Scott, Michael Simpson and Geoff Williamson.

Long Service awards were presented to 78 staff with 1,690 years’ service between them.

NEAS chief executive Yvonne Ormston said: “This is an occasion to really say thank you and recognise all of our staff. They do an amazing job, quite often above and beyond the call of duty.”