Award Winners 2009

Air Ambulance Award
RAF Medical Emergency Response Team - MERT
Sponsored by the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel

Control Room Award
Rebecca Bedson (London Ambulance Service)
Sponsored by the Medical Training Authority

Innovations Award
Great North Air Ambulance Service - GNAAS, ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction - STEMI Programme
Sponsored by Physio Control, a division of Medtronic

Paramedic/Emergency Care Practitioner of the Year
Renton O'Malley (South Western Ambulance Service)
Sponsored by Rescue & Emergency Medical Services Ltd

Special Incident Award
Shooting Incident at Truro (South Western Ambulance Service)
Sponsored by The Royal Mail Group

Ambulance Technician of the Year
Hannah Dobinson (South Western Ambulance Service)
Sponsored by AMAS Education (On-Line Technician)

NHS Ambulance Service of the Year
West Midlands Ambulance Service
Sponsored by M&L Ambulance Service

Private Ambulance Service Award
Rescue Emergency Medical Services Limited (Telford Incident)
Sponsored by Ambulance Service Institute

Military Award
Operations and Logistics Squadron, Tactical Medical Wing (RAF Lyneham)
Sponsored by The International Institute of Risk and Safety Management

President's Commendation (Certificate)
Mrs Seel (for choking incident)

Special President's Award
RAF Critical Care Air Support Team - CCAST
Sponsored by West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Ambulance Service Bravery Medal
Frank Samaras (London Ambulance Service)
Madeline Baseford Herd (London Ambulance Service)

The Awards will take place in the Members' Dining Room of the House of Commons between 16:00 and 18:00 on 29th October 2009. Entry by invitation only!

About us

The 'Ambulance Service Institute' (ASI) was formed by members of the National Health Service Ambulance Services in 1976 by the amalgamation of three previous Institutes, the 'Institute of Ambulance Officers' (IAO), the 'Institute of Certified Ambulance Personnel' (ICAP) and the 'National Institute of Ambulance Instructors' (NIAI). It has members throughout the UK NHS ambulance services and in various overseas ambulance services.

The ASI is a non-union, strictly non-political, independent institute whose membership is dedicated to improving, monitoring and raising the standards and quality of ambulance provision and thereby improving the professionalism and quality of care available to patients.

Membership of the Ambulance Service Institute was originally restricted to employees of the National Health Service Ambulance Services, however in 1998 following careful consideration, membership of the Institute was opened to non-NHS personnel.

Membership of the institute is now open to all operational employees of the NHS ambulance services, including those employed by both NHS ambulance service and NHS hospital trust patient transport services, control and communications personnel, management and training instructors.

Members of the voluntary aid societies or groups, military medical staff, oil rig medics, private ambulance service employees, first aid instructors, community first responders, cave and mountain rescue teams, RNLI, fire and rescue personnel, police and security organisations and individual first aiders who are engaged in patient care or have a strong interest in pre hospital care are encouraged to join.

Initial membership entry is normally at Student level, with progression to the grades of Member, Licentiate, Associate, Graduate and Fellowship, being achieved by successfully passing the examination of each grade. Successful candidates are presented with the Institutes certificate, which is a recognised professional qualification.

Several NHS ambulance services have a branch of the Institute, some organise local training courses, regular meetings, including social events, visits and promote links with other organisations.

The Management Board of the Institute is composed of ASI members who are elected by the Institutes membership. The Institute does not have any full or part-time paid officials.

In 1986, the Institute was granted the use of Her Majesty's crown badge emblem. (shown on the top left of this page) It is strictly reserved for use by the Institute's officers and board of Management, and only in conjunction with members who are employed by an NHS ambulance service.

The objectives of the institute are:-

• To promote, advance and encourage the education and training for the benefit of the public of persons engaged in the ambulance service and subject, thereto, to extend such education and training to members of the public generally.
• To hold examinations from time to time to test the knowledge and proficiency of applicants
• To hold conferences and meetings for the discussion of professional affairs, interests and duties.

Training

The Institute offers professional examinations and qualifications in the areas of Pre-Hospital Care, Control and Communications, and Management, for those who desire a career in the ambulance service.

It is your personal choice as to which method of training you use, it is expected that students would have progressed from student and member to licentiate within three years of becoming a member. There is no time limit within which members of other grades have to progress to the next grade. You can do your own home study on recommended material, or some ASI branches run local courses.

A Pre-Hospital 'Emergency Medical Technician' training course leading to Licentiate certification is now available.

Those members who pass the licentiate grade examination in Pre-Hospital Care will have demonstrated that they have the theoretical knowledge to become an ambulance technician/EMT. Whether they have the physical dexterity and ability to convert that knowledge into direct patient care, and to become a certified ambulance technician/EMT is a matter for further assessment by an accredited training centre.

Those who pass the Associate grade in Pre-Hospital Care will have demonstrated that they have the theoretical knowledge to become an ambulance paramedic. Again their suitability to actually become a State Registered Paramedic is a matter for further assessment by an accredited training centre.

There is a simple exemption system to Licentiate and Associate grades in Pre-Hospital Care for suitably qualified and experienced ambulance personnel holding IHCD technician and paramedic qualifications.

Membership Grades

• Student: Open to both NHS ambulance personnel and non-NHS ambulance personnel who hold a currently valid first aid at work or standard first aid certificate issued by a recognised body acceptable to the Institute.
• Member: (MASI) Open to persons with basic level ambulance certification as issued by a recognised body acceptable to the Institute, such as St. John Ambulance, St. Andrew's and the British Red Cross. Applicants will be required to show a reasonable amount of experience in pre-hospital care and hold a minimum of a standard first aid refresher certificate, automatic external defibrillator certificate (AED) and Ambulance aid level two certification. (or equivalent)
• Licentiate: (LASI) Open to those who have passed the ASI Licentiate examination in Pre-Hospital Care or Control, Communications and first line management. This grade is also available for direct entry membership by suitably experienced IHCD qualified ambulance technician/EMT's who are able to comply with the criteria for exemption.
• Associate: (AASI) Open to Licentiate members, available in Pre-Hospital Care, Control, communications and Management. This grade is also available for direct entry membership by suitably experienced IHCD Qualified/State Registered Paramedics, who are able to comply with the criteria for exemption.
• Graduate: (GASI) Open to Associate members in order to enable them to further develop and expand their knowledge of clinical and / or management skills for the benefit of patients and the general public at large. This grade is also available for direct entry membership by suitably experienced ambulance personnel who are able to comply with the criteria for exemption.
• Fellow: (FASI) Open to Graduate members who submit a dissertation to the Board of Management, on one or more aspects of ambulance service development that may improve the professional care given to patients and / or in the way in which the service is provided. There is no set examination for the Fellowship grade, each submission is considered on its own merits.