Patients and families encouraged to nominate “heroes in headsets”

 
People who have received an excellent service from call handlers and control room teams at the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) are being encouraged to nominate their “heroes in headsets” for a prized national award.

The APD Control Room Awards 2021 celebrates staff who have gone the extra mile to provide an exceptional service to patients, families, and other callers. This could include individuals who have stayed calm and reassuring throughout a traumatic call and those who have helped to save lives by directing callers to provide care until ambulance crews arrived.

Nominations can be made in several categories, including control room call taker of the year, control room dispatcher or the year, team of the year, bravery and courage and leader of the year.

Andrew Beardsley, duty ambulance operations manager with EEAST, said: “Every day our control room teams come into work not knowing what situations they will be dealing with. They work tirelessly answering 999 calls, dispatching emergency ambulance resources and arranging alternative help. They also support our patients, their friends and relatives and offer life-saving instructions on everything from CPR and childbirth to bleeding control – all whilst trying to gain as much information as possible for our attending crews.

“Roles in our control room can be some of the most difficult within the Trust. We would like to thank all our amazing team for their dedication, especially during what has been an incredibly challenging year. We would encourage anyone who feels they have received an exceptional service from one of our team to consider saying thank you by nominating them for one of these awards.”

To nominate, visit the control room awards website before 5 April.

For more information, please call 01763 268772 or email media@eastamb.nhs.uk.

Remember to visit www.eastamb.nhs.uk for more news and information about the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, follow us on Twitter @EastEnglandAmb or find us on Facebook.