Former ambulance chief Hayden Newton

THE former head of the region’s ambulance service has been given an award in the Queen’s New Year Honours.

Hayden Newton is one of the first ever recipients of the Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal for Distinguished Service (QAM).

It was first introduced in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list and is given to ambulance staff who have shown exceptional devotion to duty, outstanding ability, merit and conduct.

There are a maximum of four recipients of the QAM in England a year, two in the Birthday Honours and two in the New Year Honours.

After being nominated from within the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) Mr Newton was one of a maximum of two selected by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives to go forward for the award.

He led both Kent Ambulance Service and EEAST through their mergers.

The citation added that he “led a multitude of local and national pieces of work over and above his normal role” and that his “outstanding major incident experience” was demonstrated at the Hatfield and Potter’s Bar rail incidents.

EEAST Chair Maria Ball said: “I am thrilled that Hayden’s tireless work has been recognised in this way.

“The medal is in honour of his dedication to helping patients in their times of most need by direct involvement throughout his NHS career and his part in improving response times nationally, his involvement in major incidents and specific projects, such as his role as national ambulance lead for the London 2012 Olympics.”

Mr Newton said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive this award and want to take the opportunity to thank my family, friends and colleagues who have supported me throughout my 35 years serving patients in the ambulance service.”

Andrew Morgan, Mr Newton’s successor as EEAST Interim CEO, said: “This is thoroughly deserved for all the work Hayden has carried out through his 35-year-career and he is the ideal person to receive this prestigious award. It is an honour to be following in his footsteps.”

He announced his retirement from EEAST earlier this year.