Essex paramedic honoured for over 40 years of service with EEAST

A paramedic who has dedicated more than four decades to saving lives and serving his community has been recognised at a long service awards ceremony for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST). Clive Parnham, 65, received both the 40 Years NHS Service Award and the Ambulance Long Service and Good Conduct Medal clasp, celebrating his exceptional commitment and professionalism throughout his career.

Clive, from Saffron Walden, began his journey in September 1982 with the Essex Ambulance Service, as it was then known. His early years were spent as a relief worker across west Essex, covering areas from Thurrock to Saffron Walden – a role he humorously described as being “the lowest of the low.”

In 1988, Clive’s dedication paid off when he was promoted to Leading Ambulance Man at Saffron Walden. Just three months later, he was accepted onto Essex’s first national paramedic course. Unlike today’s paramedics, who undergo two years of supervised practice, Clive was expected to work independently immediately after qualifying.

“I was qualified on the Friday and on the Monday it was like, ‘You’re a paramedic now get on with it’,” he recalled. Training at the time consisted of eight weeks of intensive theory followed by eight weeks of hands-on experience in hospital departments including theatres, maternity, A&E, and coronary care.

Today, the pathway to becoming a paramedic is via a three- to four-year full-time BSc (Hons) in Paramedic Science, or a degree apprenticeship which takes two to three years.

In 2001, Clive joined the Essex Air Ambulance, where he served for 11 years before returning to Saffron Walden to manage the station. Since 2018, he worked with the team based at Stansted Airport, overseeing operations in a fast-paced environment that sees over 100,000 passengers and staff transit through the airport every day.

Beyond his NHS work, Clive has made significant contributions to community health. He is a long-standing member of St John Ambulance and was inducted into the Order of St John in 2011.

He also pioneered volunteer first responder schemes in Saffron Walden, Steeple Bumpstead, Thaxted and Great Chesterford, and was an active responder for around 15 years.

Reflecting on his career, Clive said:

“The role of the paramedic is almost unrecognisable to what it was when I started. The development of the role and the skills we have today demonstrate the growth and competence of the paramedic role in pre-hospital care. It has been an amazing journey!” “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with so many wonderful, caring people over the years, but I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and support of my family who have stood behind me throughout my time in the service.

“The caring aspect really stands out to me – we do this job because we care and want to serve our communities, and occasionally make a real difference in someone’s life”