Paul Henry receives his Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal

Over a year after being recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, our director of operations support Paul Henry received his Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal in person from HRH Princess Anne at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Palace in October.

Paul received this recognition for the dedication he has shown to patient care during a career spanning nearly 40 years.  

Paul, who lives in Norwich, joined the NHS on 10 October 1983. He started his career with Norfolk Ambulance Service and went on to become one of the county’s first paramedics in 1987 before taking responsibility for the training and development of all of ambulance staff in Norfolk four years’ later.

His dedication to patients, colleagues and his profession was recognised in 2000 when he became one of the first paramedics to join the board of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine, where he helped develop regulatory procedures for the profession.

Since then, Paul has gone onto hold a variety of senior operational and management roles with EEAST, as well as taking responsibility for a range of major projects. These include developing business continuity plans to help mitigate the threat of the millennium bug and driving extensive infrastructure improvements, such as introducing new make ready services and new fleet of ambulances over the past year.

“It was an incredible experience to visit Windsor Palace and receive the award from HRH Princess Anne,” said Paul.

“There are so many people in the ambulance service who are deserving of an award, particularly after what everyone has been through over the past nearly two years, so to be honoured in this way is absolutely fantastic.

“I have fulfilled many varied roles during nearly 40 years with the service, including clinical and operational positions, as well as roles in training and support services. This has given me a significant insight into the way nearly every department works, which has stood me in good stead throughout my career.

“I am particularly proud of my ability to shape positive change and keep pace with developments in the wider service while always making sure I am ready for the next challenge.”

Friday 24 December 2021