Wiltshire Air Ambulance paramedic Richard Miller has been honoured for his dedication.
Mr Miller, 34, received a chief officer commendation for his dedication from Anthony Marsh, the interim chief executive of the Great Western Ambulance Service, at a presentation on Tuesday night.
Mr Miller, who lives in Devizes, has worked for the ambulance service in Wiltshire for 17 years, six of them on the Wiltshire Air Ambulance/Wiltshire Police helicopter.
The air ambulance is one of only two in the country that can fly at night due to the specialist police equipment onboard.
So far this year the air ambulance has attended 109 medical incidents and flown 43 patients to hospital.
A modest Mr Miller said: “I feel slightly embarrassed although honoured to receive the award. I really just felt I was doing my job. I love my job and coming into contact with patients on the air ambulance when you deliver medical attention to them in the quickest possible time and flying them to the most appropriate hospital. It’s really down to the aircraft and I’m a member of staff on it.”
Mr Miller, who is married and whose wife is expecting their first child, is the team leader of the five other paramedics who work onboard the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance is funded entirely by donations from the public including the wages of the paramedics. The annual amount has increased this year to £500,000.
Mr Miller, who grew up in Hullavington and went to Malmesbury School, said: “I feel very passionate about the appeal. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the people of Wiltshire. One of the first incidents I attended on the air ambulance was to a man who had fallen off the top of a barn and had landed on his head. We picked him up and flew him to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol where a blood clot on his brain was removed. A few months later he visited us and he said the air ambulance saved his life. That spurred me on to really put the appeal into the eyes of the public.”
Mr Miller was among dozens of ambulance staff and patients who received awards from Mr Marsh.
Mr Marsh said: “Our staff already do an outstanding job in attending patients and delivering excellent care. These chief officer commendations are being awarded to members of my staff in recognition of work above and beyond the call of duty.
“The nominations come from their colleagues and from the patients they save. The ceremony was an opportunity for us all to recognise their professionalism and dedication.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel