Central and West

Abigail ensures that the staff in Powys always have access to guest speakers from a range of health care professionals. She has developed relationships with GPs in North Powys which has helped in bridging the void between primary care and WAST. This work has given clinical staff reassurance that the Senior Paramedic team in Powys is striving to improve the care that is delivered and empower them to contact the SP team for support and advice. Abi’s work ethic and leadership is an inspiration to others, she is always prepared to do whatever it takes to drive standards.

Nat works tirelessly to provide the best service she possibly can for all who access the NHS 111 Wales service. She's knowledgeable about all the policies and procedures we follow and is always there to help. Natalie is one of those many people who work under the radar and is often missed on receiving praise and gratitude. She continues to provide an excellent service even when helping others and she's one of the many who deserve to be recognised for her hard work in the 111 service.

Following many years on the road, Tom came to us on Clinical Support Desk, as part of the '36 paramedic project', and thoroughly threw himself into the deep end with remote clinical triage. As CSD continued to grow, Tom became a CSD Practice Educator supporting, coaching and leading our CSD clinicians to ensure they are learning and developing continuously, all whilst juggling two children and a newborn. Tom has recently become one of our own grown Medical Priority Dispatch System instructors which, under the watchful eye of the amazing Helen Difranco, will become one the first paramedics within WAST to achieve this role and develop our own call takers and clinicians.

Owen’s commitment to teaching and nurturing aspiring Community First Responders has left an indelible mark on my life and certainly the cohort I was a part of. His passion for saving lives, pre-hospital care as well as empowering others to do the same has been a constant source of inspiration, motivating me and my team to overcome challenges and grow both personally and professionally and I cannot thank him enough for his support. His enthusiasm to develop and improve the skill sets of CFRs is evidenced by his innovative training evenings and events, that have been both testing and enjoyable.

Gemma leads the Blue Team in Central and West’s Clinical Contact Centre from the front and is always happy to assist when asked for help. Gemma always takes the time to make herself visible to Call Takers and the Clinical Support Desk and makes sure she introduces herself to new staff, encouraging them to approach her if they need anything. Gemma is always happy to support staff development by assisting with and leading training. She is an inspirational Duty Control Manage and one that many look up to.

You can’t help but be captivated by Ian’s palpable passion for his work. He embraces each day with an infectious enthusiasm that lights a fire within his colleagues. His unwavering dedication to his craft is evident in his ability to instantly quote, word-for-word, excerpts of the Highway Code, DTAG and the Road Traffic Act. Beyond his immediate impact on learners and colleagues, Scooter is shaping the future of EMS by inspiring a new generation of compassionate and skilled professionals. His influence ripples through the Trust, as his learners carry forward his teachings, positively impacting the lives of countless patients in need of urgent care. His remarkable contributions have touched countless lives and left an indelible mark on the community.

Hannah is a keen and enthusiastic WAST colleague. Everything Hannah does is for others. Hannah mentored me when I first started in ambulance control. She reassured me and made my experience a positive one. She always had the time to give me feedback, reassured me and I believe I've developed successfully and quickly because of Hannah. During our conversations in control, it is obvious that Hannah is passionate to help and inspire others. Hannah is a Community First Responder for WAST and has always offered to take newly qualified CFRs with her for exposure and experience. Her knowledge and passion inspire me and my colleagues daily.

Katie is a brilliant Locality manager who has complete faith in her team and is there for her team constantly. She has a lovely nature that makes you believe in yourself and inspires others to progress and be a better version of themselves. She is continually supporting us and is extremely fair at all times.

I have worked with Ian now for maybe 6-8 months, and in that time, I have found him to be one of the most genuine people we have working in the ambulance service. He is always trying to better our volunteers and often goes above and beyond to accommodate the needs of others before his own. The care and commitment he gives to each of us as individuals is personal and makes us all feel like we're appreciated. It's quite inspiring to see such passion to volunteers.

Mandy works as an Emergency Medical Technician in Newtown, but her contribution to the Station goes much further than turning up for work and treating her patients. She has taken on the responsibility and implemented a stringent stores ordering system and her commitment to Infection Prevention and Control is to be commended. She has recently volunteered to be the Locality Behaviours Champion and agreed to get involved with the induction and training of new starters and I couldn't think of a better person to do the roles.

Melanie Tomkins is a true asset to NHS 111 Wales, excelling both as an excellent nurse and a skilled trainer. Her ability to train and mentor call handlers and clinicians showcases her passion for cultivating a competent and caring healthcare workforce. Melanie's dedication, approachability, and commitment to ongoing learning make her a role model for healthcare professionals, contributing to the overall excellence of the training she provides. There is no task too big or small which she does not throw her full attention and effort into and is at all times prepared to support her colleagues. She displays fantastic leadership skills, always setting an example for others by leading with confidence and inspiring those around her to reach their true potential

I first met Lucy approximately five years ago, when she was working in a Horse stable and had received a traumatic head injury because of a horse kicking out in the stable. A few years later I met Lucy again, fully recovered and now working for WAST in the Urgent Car Service role in Newtown. Lucy used the traumatic experience in a positive manner and changed her career, joining the ambulance service as she wanted to help others. She always has a positive manner, she’s polite, fun and pleasure to work alongside and even though lacks self-confidence, she’s pushed herself and is now a fully qualified EMT and even applied for Paramedic conversion this year.

Michelle Perry has worked for WAST for more than 20 years primarily in area of Emergency Medical Dispatch (999 Call handling). Due to her excellence in the field of Medical Priority Dispatch Systems she has been invited to sit on the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch Accreditation panel and has also recently been invited to become a Senior Instructor for the International Academy of Emergency Dispatchers. Thanks to Michelle's diligence and expertise in her role she is representing WAST across the UK demonstrating her excellence to external and internal stakeholders alike.

Kath is the epitome of what every manager should be - understanding, supportive, and accommodating to say the least. Kath respects everyone's part within the team and despite being our manager, isn't afraid to ask for our input or make changes where she can, to ensure we all work happier and more effectively. Kath is an enthusiastic supporter and advocate for our development, accommodating courses, encouraging new skills, and passing on information for new opportunities she's seen that she thinks would help us.

Bethan is a long-standing member of the NHS 111 Wales team having joined NHS Direct Wales back in 2006 as a Dental Health Advisor, a role in which she has excelled over the years. Since November 2022, Bethan has been seconded into the role of Health Information Coordinator, during which time, she has flourished and has very quickly taken ownership of the role and associated responsibilities which include operational and line management of the Health Information and Dental Teams. Always encouraging, Bethan really does have all the attributes required for her role with the added benefit of years of experience. Although currently seconded into the Health Information Team, Bethan often works additional hours to support the dental team and the wider service and to the benefit of service users. 

Emma has recently volunteered to become a Culture Champion, where she has fully embraced her role and has been pivotal in increasing the profile of the Trust behaviours within EMS Coordination. As a trained mentor and Call Handling Supervisor Emma provides support to all her colleagues and has a natural coaching nature with new staff. Emma is valued member of the Central and West team and works to inspire all colleagues to be "Our Best".

Dave Farrow