New Year Honours 2024: Norfolk medic receives BEM for Covid project

Carl Smith also volunteers for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Norfolk Accident Rescue Service

A critical care paramedic who led an initiative where firefighters supported the ambulance service during the Covid-19 pandemic has been named on the King's New Year Honours list.

Carl Smith, 50, from Swaffham, Norfolk, suggested that firefighters drive ambulances to alleviate staff shortages.

The Cabinet Office described the initiative as "instrumental".

Mr Smith said he was "humbled" at receiving a British Empire Medal (BEM).

He said he thought it was a "wind-up" when a letter from the Cabinet Office came through the post.

"I'm a person that loves to wind up and I'm a person that receives a wind-up, and I couldn't really believe it," he said.

"I've since had a telephone call from them confirming it, so I do believe it now."

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As well as working for the East of England Ambulance Service for 29 years, Mr Smith has been an on-call firefighter for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service for 27 years.

He is also a volunteer paramedic for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Norfolk Accident Rescue Service.

His BEM is for services to the NHS and fire service.

During the pandemic, the East of England Ambulance Service launched a recruitment drive to employ an extra 1,000 new staff

At the start of the pandemic when many ambulance service employees were off work sick or self-isolating, Mr Smith suggested firefighters were given basic training to support paramedics, and he was asked to lead the project because of his experience on other initiatives.

By the time it was stood down in July 2020, a total of 83 firefighters were trained, covering 754 shifts and 10,355 working hours.

Mr Smith said the success of the project meant the East of England Ambulance Service still employed "non-clinical drivers", many of whom were former firefighters.

"There's a lot of people out there doing great work so I'm not sure the word hero is for me," he said.

"We all do the job for the same reason and that's to help people and do the best we can."

Mr Smith will be presented with his BEM next year. He has also been invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Other people from Norfolk who have been named on the King's New Year Honours list include:

• Christine Futter, 63, from Norwich, former chief operating officer for Norfolk and Suffolk Care Support Ltd, appointed MBE for services to adult social care

• Melinda Raker, 74, from Thetford, founder and patron of the charity YANA, appointed MBE for services to rural mental health and wellbeing

• David Ball, 80, from Brancaster, fundraiser, Rotarian and licensed lay minister in the Church of England, appointed MBE for services to the community

• Matthew Willer, 36, from Swanton Abbott, the founder of The Papillon Project, receives a BEM for services to young people

• Christopher Bradbury, 64, from Norwich, chair of the Reedham and District Community Association, receives a BEM for services to the community

• Geoffrey Lowe, 67, from Stalham, crew manager for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, receives a BEM for services to the community

• Albert Cadmore, 76, from Great Yarmouth, chaplain and former PE teacher, receives a BEM for services to the community

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