Ambulance boss receives top honour from The Queen
An ambulance boss has received a top honour for his services from The Queen.
Steve Wheaton, assistant chief ambulance officer for West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS), received his Queens Ambulance Medal (QAM) from the Monarch herself at an investiture ceremony in Windsor Castle.
Mr Wheaton's career spans almost 30 years and he was recognised in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List for his dedication and distinguished service to the ambulance sector.
The resilience and specialist operations director said: “It was a very proud day for me and my family who came to the ceremony with me.
"Whilst I received the award, I couldn’t have done it without the many staff who I have had the pleasure of working with in the ambulance service across our country.
“It truly was a day to remember, made even more special by the fact it was The Queen herself who presented me with the QAM.
"Her Majesty asked about WMAS and also how busy the ambulance service is.
“I would also like to thank the many people around the country who have sent me such lovely messages about the day and receiving the medal; it really is humbling.”
Anthony Marsh, WMAS chief executive officer, said: “I have known Steve for 15 years and, in that time, I have watched him progress and flourish within the ambulance service to become a knowledgeable and well-respected individual in his field.
“I am incredibly proud that Steve has been recognised in this way and would like to thank him for his tremendous service and for the thousands of patients he has helped along the way.”
Speaking at the time of the announcement, 45-year-old Mr Wheaton said, he found his passion with the ambulance service at the age of 10 when he became a cadet with a local volunteer ambulance service.
In 1991, he went on to become a cadet with London Ambulance Service where he spent 10 years progressing to become a registered paramedic.
In 2001 he obtained a promotion to duty officer at the, then Essex Ambulance Service before moving up the ranks to station officer, divisional commander and the head of emergency planning.
In 2008, Mr Wheaton made the move to WMAS to head up and expand the trust’s emergency preparedness and specialist operations team where he remains today.
In 2013, he seconded to the role of deputy senior responsible officer at the Home Office where he was responsible for rolling out the national Joint Emergency Service Interoperability Programme (JESIP) across all emergency services in England.
