The Queen awards NEAS chief in Birthday Honours’
Tuesday, 04 July, 2017
Paul Liversidge, Chief Operating Officer at North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded the Queen’s Ambulance Medal in the 2017 Birthday Honour’s List.
The honour, which is presented to recognise distinguished service in the ambulance service, was given in recognition of the enormous contribution and influence Paul has made in his 33-year career in the North East.
Chairman Ash Winter OBE said: “We are all delighted for Paul’s recognition of his work in the region. He has made a significant contribution caring for patients and supporting our crews. This award is given to those in the NHS ambulance service who have shown distinguished or meritorious service, including service marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct. I can think of no other worthy recipient of this today than Paul and it is well-deserved.”
Martin Flaherty OBE, Managing Director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) said: “AACE is exceptionally proud of all ambulance staff who go that extra mile to care for patients and contribute to the development and progression of the ambulance service, at all levels. The QAM is a very prestigious award that recognises the hard work and dedication of some of our very best ambulance professionals and we warmly congratulate the latest recipients.”
Paul, aged 55, of Newcastle, worked as a frontline paramedic for seven years before taking over responsibility for training and developing cadets. He became head of the training unit for new staff and his success saw him appointed as divisional commander for accident and emergency services and later as general manager for patient transport services.
Paul later became project manager for NHS Direct when it was launched in the Northumbria area. At that time it was one of only three pilot sites for the new telephone health service reaching more than one million people and earning highly positive feedback in support of its roll-out across the country.
He also played an instrumental part in introducing the air ambulance service in Northumbria by establishing and recruiting the senior management, which has since gone on to achieve charitable status running three helicopters covering the North East and Cumbria.
Paul’s ability also saw him become part of a specialist ambulance team that went out to Kuwait to build the country’s ambulance service after the 1990 Gulf War. He was appointed a Board Director in 2000 and became Chief Operating Officer in 2011, responsible for more than 1,800 emergency care, patient transport and operations centre staff in the service. He is the longest serving NHS ambulance director of operations (or equivalent) in the country and remains a qualified paramedic.
