New UK Medal Announced

[Megan]

The Queen's Ambulance Service Medal is to be established to reward acts beyond the call of duty by members of the ambulance services. It will also be awarded for outstanding contributions to the national or local development of the ambulance service.

See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6243840.stm

Further details as I manage to unearth them...

[Colin Davie]

Well I would imagine they will become very common because the abuse those guys, and also their colleagues in the Fire Service get on a very regular basis from all the neds and idiots every time they get called out is unbelievable. Considering the duty they provide, they are very under appreciated at times and certainly deserve a medal just for turning out every day.

C

[Alex K]

About time too.

regards

Alex

[Taz]

Further info with examples of the critaria needed to be awarded the Queen's Ambulance Service Medal.

1. The Queen's Ambulance Service Medal for ambulance services is intended for all NHS ambulance services within England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

2. The medal will be awarded to recognise meritorious service. Meritorious service is defined as valuable services characterised by devotion to duty, including prolonged service marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct.

3. The following are examples of the type of service that might be recognised:

a) a significant contribution to either local or national developments that can be rolled out to other Ambulance Services;

b) success in organising NHS Ambulance Services under special difficulties;

c) commitment beyond the call of duty when dealing with major, serious or dangerous operational incidents which make exceptional and sustained demands on personnel. Such incidents would include multiple casualties in horrific road accidents, rail, train and plane crashes, terrorist attacks, public disorder and large complex fires involving for example chemicals and explosives;

d) special services to Royalty or Heads of State.

4. The first medals are expected to be awarded in 2009.

Regards Eddie

[Guest Rick Research]

"d) special services to Royalty or Heads of State."

Those would be the ones that don't get Gazetted, I'm thinking.

[Chris Boonzaier]

"d) special services to Royalty or Heads of State."

Those would be the ones that don't get Gazetted, I'm thinking.

Or... will be kept of the front page of the Sun.

I hope that QE2 does the recipients a favor and stops with this silliness of hers to have the head/crown proportion changed even more.

When she started out it was a 3:1 proportion.... now it is 1:3... soon there will just be a huuuuge crown with a pinprick sized head...

[Taz]

I hope that QE2 does the recipients a favor and stops with this silliness of hers to have the head/crown proportion changed even more.

When she started out it was a 3:1 proportion.... now it is 1:3... soon there will just be a huuuuge crown with a pinprick sized head...

Yes Chris,

That large crown looks strange, started back with the South Atlantic 1982 Campaign Medal as I recall.

I'm pleased for the service that it is to be recognised though, whatever it my look like.

St Johns have a Medal as do the Nursing service and of course Australia the ASM.

Awards for the Queen's Police and Fire Service Medals have existed since 1954 so it's taken a while. But as they say better late than never.

Regards Eddie

[Taz]

Well I would imagine they will become very common because the abuse those guys, and also their colleagues in the Fire Service get on a very regular basis from all the neds and idiots every time they get called out is unbelievable. Considering the duty they provide, they are very under appreciated at times and certainly deserve a medal just for turning out every day.

C

UNISON has welcomed the introduction of the new Queen?s Ambulance Service Medal, announced yesterday by Health Minister Andy Burnham.

UNISON national officer Sam Oestreicher, said:

"This award does more than honour individual acts of heroism and bravery above and beyond the call of duty. It gives long overdue recognition of the unavoidable and sometimes lethal hazards faced by ambulance staff on a daily basis

"UNISON would like to see the acknowledgement brought by this award reinforced with action elsewhere to reduce the risks to ambulance staff to a minimum.

"We have been calling for a zero tolerance policy and tougher sentences for those who assault ambulance and other NHS workers. That would help underline the medal's positive message".

In 2005-6 there were 58,695, physical assaults on NHS staff.

UNISON has more than half of all UK ambulance staff in membership.

Apparently the award itself will be similar to the existing Police and Fire Service Medals and will be bestowed by the Queen.

Regards Eddie.

[Megan]

Having required the attention of the paramedics in the last week, it's certainly good to hear that they are to have meritorious service properly marked. Although I do not think that providing attention to politicians is noteworthy, unless it's a reward for gritting your teeth long enough to get the job done!

[peter monahan]

Having required the attention of the paramedics in the last week, it's certainly good to hear that they are to have meritorious service properly marked. Although I do not think that providing attention to politicians is noteworthy, unless it's a reward for gritting your teeth long enough to get the job done!

OTOH, it's in line with past practice. One of the nicest strings of decorations I've ever handled (many many years ago) was to a senior station master at Euston Station (I think), London in the early part of the 20th century: apparently every time a boat train with a foreign head of state came in, he got another foreign gong - San serafino Order of Purity and Truth, 7th Class or whatever.

So, I can see the NHS bod in charge of health/disaster planning for a visit by The Bush or Val Putin getting one of the new medals as a 'thank you'. Seems a bit hard on the fronliners who earned them in a chemical fire or bomb clean-up, but twas ever thus!

Peter

[Craig]

I think Peter is right and as is the case with the Queens Police Medal it will be awarded for Meritous Service eg A senior officer sat on his backside behind a desk for 20 years who would probaly faint if he actualy saw blood. A great idea and well deserved but as always the senior officers will gather at a meeting to discuss who deserves this medal.....Um I know lets give it to ourselves.

[Robin Lumsden]

Apparently the award itself will be similar to the existing Police and Fire Service Medals and will be bestowed by the Queen.

If that's the case, it means that this medal will be given (with only VERY few 'token' exceptions) to senior gaffers for long service.

What a pity.

[Nick]

If the criteria as set out by Eddie is correct it actually leads to an imbalance between the ambulance service, police and fire brigade.

The QPM can only be issued for Meritorious Service, the criteria with regards beyond the call of duty in specific circumstances does not apply to the QPM since the gallantry aspect was nullified in 1977. I am pleased to see that it has been apparently included for the QASM lets hope that the same criteria is also considered for the Police and Fire brigade, as it is about time that both got their own specific awards back for services beyond the call of duty.

[leigh kitchen]

The QPM for service seems to go to some Police Federation reps & a few others. Chief Constables also receive it when they attain that rank as a result of lobbying by the Fed some years ago.

There used to be a QPM on display on the wall of the bar of one of the Cambridgeshire police stations, it was awarded to a PC who received a report of a couple of sus males in the area, located them, stuck them in the back seats of his vehicle, & then got stabbed in the neck by one of them as he drove them back to the nick.

He stayed on duty to assist in their location & apprehension, & for doing so received the QPM for gallantry.

Nowadays he'd simply get into trouible for not searching prisoners & sticking them in the abckseats & without additional escorts (to be fair, he was probably the only bloke on duty at the time).

You have'nt got a QPM yet Robin - not much chance now with only days to do?

[Robin Lumsden]

You haven't got a QPM yet Robin............?

Fat chance! But I'll be more than happy with my Quota of Pension Money!

Edited November 22, 2007 by Robin Lumsden