Welsh Ambulance Service Gail Williams Awards 2013

WELSH Ambulance Service staff have been recognised at a national ceremony to reward clinical excellence.

Llanelli-based paramedics Kevin Gamlin and Elis Bartlett were presented with the Gail Williams Award 2013 for their part in the aftermath of a tragic car accident in Brynamman, Carmarthenshire.

The multi-agency operation in April also involved the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team, as well as colleagues from the police, fire service, Royal Air Force and mountain rescue team.

The pair were nominated by Clinical Team Leader, Richard Ashby, who said: “Extricating these casualties and organising their onward transfer to hospital was a challenging call, and Kevin and Elis are recognised for their efforts on this day.”

Kevin said: “It’s nice to be recognised as a paramedic for the work we all do within the Welsh Ambulance Service on a daily basis.”

Elis added: “I’m thrilled, over the moon! It’s good to be recognised. The trophy will take pride of place on my mantelpiece.”

The Gail Williams Award is sponsored by Michael Williams and his daughters Megan and Sioned in memory of his wife and their mother, Gail Williams. The award recognises individuals or teams who have provided clinical excellence in the pre-hospital setting. Mr Williams, of Cwmllynfell, said: “This incident was a testing one for the crew involved and despite the difficult circumstances they provided a first class service.

“It has been ten years since Gail’s passing. On behalf of Gail, myself and our daughters, Megan and Sioned, I’m delighted that there were such worthy winners of this year’s award.”

After lengthy deliberations, the short listing panel - comprising of Mr Williams, Richard Lee, Head of Clinical Services at the Welsh Ambulance Service, and Deputy Medical Director Andrew Jenkins – decided that three nominations were worthy of recognition.

Also presented with a ‘Highly Commended’ runner-up award during the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust Board meeting in Cwmbran were Community First Responders (CFR) Chris Burge and Dean Williams, who also works as an Emergency Medical Service allocator in Cwmbran and as a CFR trainer in Cardiff.

Chris and Dean, who use specially-converted mountain bikes to provide cover in Cardiff, were called to Cardiff Railway Station in March where an England rugby fan in the city for the Six Nations decider had suffered a cardiac arrest on the platform.

Following successful defibrillation by the CFRs, the patient was transferred by ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales where he went on to make a full recovery.

A second runner-up award was also presented to paramedic Simon Mullins and Patient Care Services (PCS) staff Antony Peters and Kevin Price, who are based in Newport.

Antony and Kevin were undertaking their PCS duties in January when they came across a nine-year-old little girl who had collapsed on her way to school.

Antony performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until paramedic Simon arrived in a rapid response car and delivered an electric shock with a defibrillator to restart the girl’s heart.

Simon continued treatment in an emergency ambulance en route to the Royal Gwent Hospital, where she required further defibrillation but has since made a full recovery.  

WAS Chairman, Stuart Fletcher, said:  “This year’s nominations were of a truly high standard. Awards such as this remind us of the work which our staff undertake day in and day out, often in very difficult circumstances.”

WAS Chief Executive, Elwyn Price-Morris, added: “This year marks the tenth anniversary of Gail’s passing.  The annual presentation of this award in her memory reminds us each year of the clinical development that the Trust is making and the advances in patient care which Michael is so passionate about us achieving.”