Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance wins big at National Awards of Excellence
Our county's service won three of the five awards it was nominated for
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) ran out winners in three of the five categories it was shortlisted in at this year's National Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence.
The awards won were Doctor of the Year, won by Dr Phil Hyde, Innovation of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award, that went to DSAA’s CEO Bill Sivewright.
Speaking on winning Doctor of the Year and accepting the Innovation Award on behalf of the team, Dr Phil Hyde said: "Thank you very much to Air Ambulances UK. It is a real privilege to be awarded Doctor of the Year, particularly in the context of the other finalists, Asha Lewinsohn and Anne Boothe’s amazing activities; I know what exceptional doctors they are.
"We work as a really close team at DSAA and together have achieved exciting improvements in patient care. I thank them all for supporting me for this award.
"I am also delighted to accept the Innovation of the Year Award on behalf of the collaboration between DSAA, the SORT team in Southampton covering Wessex and the WATCH team covering Wales and the South West.
"This innovation has been an enormous co-operative effort, working alongside a fantastic group of people and we hope to share our learning with the rest of the country.”
Bill Sivewright gave praise to the whole team, before responding to winning the Lifetime Achievement Award: “To be shortlisted as finalists in five categories for this year’s Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence is a remarkable achievement.
"With 21 air ambulances across the country operating in an environment that demands high performance, to stand out in that company, is a real mark of quality.
"But for three of our nominations to then be held up as not one of the best, but the best in the country is simply outstanding. Congratulations to our whole team, who are all winners in our eyes and who continue to work tirelessly, for the benefit of the patients we serve.
“Being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award is an incredible honour and it has been a privilege to be able to contribute in the way that I have. My time as Chair of the then Association of Air Ambulances, was only possible, because our trustees had the vision to see that our own path at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance would be bettered by collaborating with others.
"Therefore, they gave some of my time freely to the Association and I owe a huge debt of thanks to them. I rely incredibly on the team around me to allow me flexibility to do what I do, so a special thanks to them. For the air ambulance sector, it is impossible not to recognise that we all do a fantastic job; we save lives, we make lives better and we give people hope. What more can anyone have than that for inspiration.”