I've been a paramedic for 29 years and have been given a national award for my service

Jayne Elliott, a paramedic at North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), was recognised by Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) for her decades of service.

Jayne joined NEAS in April 1996 when she was 21, where she started on the patient transport service and then went on to qualify as a paramedic in July 2003. She was nominated by a paramedic apprentice for her ‘outstanding service as a paramedic’ and was chosen to represent NEAS in the awards this year after winning the compassionate care awards at the NEAS staff awards in 2024.

Jayne said: “My grandmother and father both work in the NHS so I always knew I would follow in their footsteps. I chose to be a paramedic due to the diversity it offered, there is something different every job.”

“I’ve served the public for 29 years and I can honestly say it’s still the best job in the world, making a difference to someone, whether it be due to our trained skills, drugs we administer or just by simply talking to them at their time of need is a feeling that makes me keep doing the job to the best of my ability.”

The nomination said: “Jayne was dispatched to a regular caller who had been unwell for some time and unable to care for themselves. Jayne’s compassion meant the patient felt cared for, reassured, and was able to regain some dignity. Despite being held in a handover queue at hospital for several hours, the patient’s mood was lifted by Jayne so that she was able to laugh and joke.

“Jayne spent time putting referrals in place to support the patient.

“The student paramedic working with Jayne has spoken about the impact her compassion had on his own professional practice. It didn’t matter to Jayne how many times she had met this patient previously – she still gave her the same level of compassion and care as she would anyone else.

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“Although the patient later died, it was clear she had been given the best possible care by Jayne in her final hours.”

Jayne added: “She said: “At first, it was so overwhelming to be nominated for at our staff awards last year but an incredible feeling to win it but to then go onto winning a national award has made me so immensely proud.”

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