Ambulance staff clock up nearly 6,000 years (From Gazette & Herald)

Ambulance staff clock up nearly 6,000 years

9:25am Friday 14th September 2012 in News

MORE than 200 ambulance staff from Yorkshire who have clocked up almost 6,000 years of service between them have been honoured.

A string of long-service and retirement awards were presented to 90 Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) NHS Trust workers from across the county at a ceremony in Wakefield, while 136 more will receive their awards locally.

The accolades include the Queen’s Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, which is given to those with at least 20 years of “exemplary” frontline emergency service, and YAS’ own award for staff who carry out other duties.

Of the recipients, 48 have spent 30 years with the service while five have been there for four decades, and 110 retiring staff have also been recognised for their contribution. The awards were presented by Major David Wroe, the Queen’s representative as Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire.

YAS chief executive David Whiting said: “These awards recognise outstanding commitment to duty. The trust is committed to providing high-quality patient care and we are only able to do so thanks to the dedication of our staff, many of whom have spent much of their working lives in the ambulance service. Each and every one of them is a credit to our service and the people of Yorkshire who they serve so well.”