Norton/Newmarket: Prestigious award is presented to Dr Andy Mason
A DOCTOR from Suffolk has received a prestigious award for his pioneering work in the field of emergency pre-hospital care.
Dr Andy Mason, from Norton, was presented with the Asmund S Laerdal Award during the International Pre-hospital Care Conference of the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS) on Friday.
The 64-year-old, who has four children, has been an unpaid volunteer with Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS) – an emergency medical charity – since 1974. He still responds regularly to requests for assistance from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust.
The award recognised Dr Mason’s outstanding services to immediate care during his 38 years as a SARS doctor, including his work in developing the PALM procedure – a life-saving technique to deliver oxygen to critically-injured patients.
Dr Mason, who works as the senior racecourse medical officer at Newmarket racecourses, said: “I was really delighted and humbled and I was very pleased I had been recognised by our national body.”
Dr Mason, who was formerly a GP in Woolpit, is only the 20th recipient of the award since it was first conferred in 1984.
He described his voluntary role with SARS as “hugely rewarding”.
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“I have developed some skills over the years which are vital life-saving skills which can help people who are critically ill or injured and that’s what I want to do. I think medicine is still a calling for many people,” he said.
For more information on SARS, including how to donate funds, visit www.sars999.org.uk
