Director thanks Craig and James after freak cycle injury

Valerie Morton has witnessed the care and professionalism of ambulance staff in her role as a non-executive director time after time.

But she never imagined she’d become a patient herself when she went on a cycle ride in Cambridgeshire last year.

Valerie was cycling along Gransden Road, Abbotsley, on the morning of 16^th May when she fell off her bike and suffered a serious leg injury. Emergency Medical Technician James Dilley and Emergency Care Assistant Craig Gardner were dispatched, as well as an ambulance officer and response car from Magpas after the brake lever of her bicycle impaled her leg.

Valerie was taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital by Craig and James after safely removing the bicycle from her leg.

Thankfully the freak injury didn’t hit an artery or cause any muscle damage, and, on 11^th January, she was reunited with Craig and James at March ambulance station - and took along a cycle-themed cake to say thank you.

Valerie, who became a non-executive director for the Trust in 2013, said: “Part of what we do is look at papers and statistics, but a lot of us try to get out and about and visit stations as much as possible and go on ride-outs. When you become a patient, it makes it real.

“At the time, I did not think it was that serious, but when they said the ambulance was coming, I thought ‘I don’t need to worry now’”.

“The crew were fabulous and made me feel so relaxed.”

Published 28th January, 2016