Welsh Ambulance Service colleagues in north Wales celebrated for long service
THE Welsh Ambulance Service celebrated long-serving colleagues at an awards ceremony in north Wales yesterday.
Colleagues with 20 and 30 years of NHS service were presented with medals at Deganwy’s Quay Hotel in an event to recognise their length of service.
Colleagues with 20 years in the Emergency Medical Service were also presented with a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal by the Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd Mr Henry Fetherstonhaugh OBE DL.
Among the recipients was Lisa Pope, a duty operations manager in Denbigh, who was recognised for two decades of service.
Lisa joined the ambulance service aged 23 in 2003 as a trainee emergency medical technician.
She qualified as a paramedic in 2006 before her appointment to duty operations manager in 2020.
She said: “I have great memories of my training, which gave me the opportunity to develop my skills but meet some fantastic people from all over Wales along the way.
“I enjoy my role as an operations manager and while there are some days that are more challenging than others, I always endeavour to support staff and colleagues wherever I can.”
The mother-of-two is also an avid supporter of cancer charities.
Undeterred by the cancellation of the London Marathon in 2020 due to Covid-19, Lisa mapped out a 26.2-mile course in north Wales and ran the entire distance, completing her own ‘virtual’ London marathon for the benefit of Cancer Research UK.
Her next challenge will be a 50k ultra marathon on the Llyn Peninsula next April for women's cancer charities.
Lisa, who has 16-year-old Oli and 11-year-old Elan with her partner of 27 years, Mike, said: “Since joining the service, the demand has increased significantly.
“As a service we have moved with the times to develop and improve the skill set of our frontline staff in order to deliver the highest standard of care to patients in the communities we serve.
“I enjoy the interaction with patients and their families and being able to help and support them during difficult times, which gives me the opportunity to 'keep in touch' with what crews face on a daily basis.
“I am proud of being part of a fantastic team – here's to another 20 years!”
Almost 300 colleagues across the Trust have been invited to receive a Long Service Award this year.
Colleagues at yesterday’s event included paramedics, emergency medical technicians, call handlers, allocators, operations managers and corporate colleagues from across north Wales.
Chief Executive Jason Killens said: “Working for the ambulance service takes a certain, special type of person.
“It is a job that makes a real difference as we tend to only see people when they are seriously unwell or suffering a medical emergency.
“Our staff are the people to whom they turn in those times of need, and it takes remarkable people to continue doing what they do, day in, day out.
“There is a wealth of experience amongst our people and the Long Service Awards we presented to the people in the room yesterday amounted to a collective service of almost 300 years.”
Non-Executive Director and Vice Chair Ceri Jackson added: “These wonderful people work incredibly hard serving the people of Wales and it is them who make the Welsh Ambulance Service what it is today.
“All of the people here play a crucial role in saving lives and I know I speak for the entire organisation when I say that we are extremely proud of their achievements.
“Congratulations to all of our recipients.”
Editor’s Notes
For more information, email Communications Officer Jeff.Prescott@wales.nhs.uk or call Jeff on 07811 748363.