London Ambulance Service long serving staff honoured at special ceremony

London Ambulance Service staff with more than 3,100 years’ service between them have been honoured at a prestigious ceremony.

An amazing 122 members of staff from operational and corporate roles who have served for 20 or more years of service, helping to care for people in the capital, were celebrated at the event at the Royal College of Physicians in Regents Park.

Three of these received medals for having served for 40 years, in a celebration on Friday 13 September.

Terry Longhurst and Steven Roberts were two of our longest-serving members of staff being honoured for 40 years’ in Service – having joined within one week of each other in 1984.

Prior to joining London Ambulance Service, both worked in the army and said they wanted to continue a “career of service”.

Terry is a paramedic and has worked many of his years in specialist teams such as the Hazardous Area Response team (who provide life-saving medical care in complex and challenging environments). Steven has also worked in specialist teams across the Trust.

Terry said: “We are passionate about helping people. Neither of us were clinicians before we joined. For me, my time here has been all about dedication, loyalty and perseverance.”

Steve said: “Working at the Service for so many years, you form really strong bonds with colleagues. We’ve seen many depart over the years, and sadly, some have even passed away. We’ll always remember them.”

Both agreed “the future is in safe hands” as they reflected on the next generation of clinicians across the Service taking advantage of the training on offer, including university courses.

They both added these new recruits to LAS do an incredible job of providing brilliant out-of-hospital care for their patients.

The 122 recipients of long service accolades were presented with either the Queen’s or King’s Long Service and Good Conduct Medal or the London Ambulance Service Medallion by LAS Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles.

The Medal is awarded to staff who have served 20 years on frontline duties, responding to Londoners when they need urgent or emergency care.

The Medallion is awarded to staff who are not eligible for the Medal, but still play an important role behind the scenes to help care for the people of London.

London Ambulance Service Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles said: “I am extremely proud to present these awards to an incredibly committed bunch of people who play such vital roles in helping others.

“We were able to celebrate a collective 3,140 years’ of service which is a fantastic achievement and also speaks volumes in terms of the power we hold as a team. I am so pleased to be able to celebrate the wonderful achievements of all those who are being celebrated and all that remains is for me to say a massive well done to all the honourees today and thank you for all you have done!”

To find out more about a fulfilling career with London Ambulance Service, visit our vacancies page on our website.