THE public can nominate ambulance employees who have gone beyond the call of duty over the past year for an award.

The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) holds the Beyond the Call of Duty Awards every year, to recognise staff who have given exceptional care. The celebration also incorporates long service awards for staff who have been with the service for 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years.

Yvonne Ormston, NEAS chief executive, said: “Our staff play a really important role in the lives of North East residents every day whether it be answering a 999 or 111 calls, giving clinical care or patient transport, or supporting the front line with everything from fleet, recruitment and finances to occupational health and information technology.

"Each one helps to ensure patients and their families receive the best service they can from us when it really matters. To us, they are all heroes, but we know that those whose lives they touch really understand what a difference they have made to them day in, day out.

“We are appealing to all those who want to recognise our staff to say well done for something that they often themselves see as ‘just their job’. Being recognised by a patient’s nomination can mean a lot to our hardworking staff.”

Nominations can be made online at neas.nhs.uk/staff-awardsup until Saturday, July 27.