Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence winners announced
The UK Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence, which took place on 12 November at The Chelsea Harbour Hotel in London, rewarded individuals and teams in the UK air ambulance industry that excelled in 2018.
The UK Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence, which took place on 12 November at The Chelsea Harbour Hotel in London, rewarded individuals and teams in the UK air ambulance industry that excelled in 2018.
The awards are judged by an independent panel of judges, chaired by Jim Fitzpatrick MP. “Every year at these Awards, we hear about ordinary people doing extraordinary things and this year was no exception,” Fitzpatrick said of the awards. “The level of commitment that air ambulance charities inspire is remarkable, whether that's volunteers spending decades of their lives raising money, clinicians performing genuinely life-saving surgery out in the field or pilots showing nerves of steel to deal with the challenges of the weather and terrain.”
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Angela Hughes, Chief Executive of Wales Air Ambulance. Hughes was the charity’s first ever employee and now takes charge of an organisation with over 100 staff members, 650 volunteers and four helicopters. “It’s clear that those working in the air ambulance sector are among the most courageous, talented and determined people around – although I know few would accept that description as they say, 'I'm just doing my job'. Well, they do a remarkable job and I'm delighted we were able to celebrate each and every one of them,” added Fitzpatrick.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Air Ambulance Campaign Award
WINNER: Wiltshire Air Ambulance
Charity Staff Member of the Year
WINNER: Jen Easton, East Anglian Air Ambulance
Charity Volunteer of the Year
WINNER: Colin Smith, Wiltshire Air Ambulance
Air Ambulance Doctor of the Year
WINNER: Dr Paddy Morgan, Great Western Air Ambulance
Innovation of the Year Award
WINNER: North West Air Ambulance
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Angela Hughes
Air Ambulance Paramedic of the Year
WINNER: Mark Williams, Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance
Air Ambulance Pilot of the Year
WINNER: Gavin Rowley, Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance
Special Incident Award
WINNER: Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
Air Operations Support Staff Member of the Year
WINNER: Paul Smith, London's Air Ambulance
Outstanding Young Person Award
WINNER: Ali Layard, Great Western Air Ambulance
AAA Chairman’s Award
WINNER: Paul Westaway