Chief Paramedic awarded top ambulance medal in the King’s Birthday Honours

The Chief Paramedic at London Ambulance Service has been awarded His Majesty the King’s Ambulance Service Medal for distinguished service as part of the monarch’s Birthday Honours this weekend.

A paramedic since 2002, Dr John Martin has had a phenomenal career at the forefront of the field, dedicating his life to improving patient care and developing the expertise of clinicians within the profession.

Dr Martin joined the London Ambulance Service in March 2021 in a newly-created Chief Paramedic role which brought together responsibility for both clinical quality at the Trust and for ensuring paramedics and ambulance clinicians have access to world-class training, education and professional development.

With over 650 apprentices at the Service, John has helped LAS become the biggest apprentice provider in the NHS and spearheaded work to protect our staff from violence and aggression, including the installation of crew safety systems and body worn cameras.

LAS Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles said: “John epitomises what it is to be a highly compassionate, respected and inclusive NHS leader. He also exemplifies what it is to be a professional paramedic, using every opportunity to develop the profession for the benefit of staff and the patients they care for.

“His leadership and foresight has turbocharged the development of the country’s paramedic workforce, improving the quality of care received by thousands of patients across the country. These achievements will deliver lasting improvements for the paramedic profession.”

Dr Martin has also been President of the College of Paramedics since 2017, and has been active in developing the College of Paramedics for many years, all of which he has volunteered to do in his own time.

In May 2023, he finished his second term as the College’s president. Under his tenure, membership has grown by 2,000% and the College is close to achieving a Royal Charter and continuous professional development is now a mandatory part of paramedic practice.

Dr John Martin said: “I am hugely honoured and humbled to receive this medal on behalf of London Ambulance Service and the paramedic profession.

“I’m proud to have been a paramedic for over 20 years and work with such dedicated and talented clinicians at LAS, ambulance services and the wider NHS to ensure that our patients get the best possible care in their time of need.”

In 2006 Dr Martin led the curriculum guidance development for paramedics, paving the way for enhanced education and paramedic practice, which is now embedded across the United Kingdom.

His other roles in the NHS have included Consultant Paramedic at East of England Ambulance Service, and director roles at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust – where he led the Trust’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.