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Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
[Image caption: Ian Roberts, Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered manager received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the national Air Ambulances UK (AAUK) Awards of Excellence 2023.]
A committed air ambulance representative who, in 2023, marked 20 years of service with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the national Air Ambulances UK (AAUK) Awards of Excellence 2023.
Ian Roberts, from Bewdley, is presently the charity’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered manager. Prior to this Ian was Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s air operations manager and a qualified critical care paramedic. While he has worked with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity for the past 20 years, his ambulance career spans more than 40 years in total. His four decades of dedication were recognised when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s AAUK Awards of Excellence.
Ian began his career in 1983 at Worcester Ambulance Station and within six years he progressed into management. In the years following, Ian became a control officer before taking on the role of divisional officer for Worcestershire in which he managed all seven ambulance stations across the county.
By 1999, Ian had returned to the road and worked as a relief staff member in Bromsgrove where he met his partner, Jayne White, who now also works for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. Ian successfully applied for a secondment to Air Operations and joined the air ambulance (which was then called County Air Ambulance) in May 2003.
By 2014, Ian became acting air operations manager, following a decade of helping to implement and manage West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Regional Trauma Desk and Medical Emergency Response Incident Team (MERIT) systems. He was them promoted to air operations manager and was responsible for the largest air ambulance operating patch in England, including three helicopters and a fleet of critical care cars provided by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.
In 2020, Ian retired from his full time position, but, given his experience, strategic outlook, and dedication to providing the very best patient care, Ian was asked to re-join Midlands Air Ambulance Charity to offer consultancy and advice to the Senior Leadership Team.
In addition, Ian also took on the shared role of Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered manager supporting Midlands Air Ambulance Charity to achieve clinical independence in April 2022.
Hanna Sebright, chief executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Ian’s commitment to our pre-hospital emergency service knows no bounds. He has played an intrinsic part in enabling our charity to become develop and grow over and helping us gain our CQC registration. Since then, Ian has facilitated the construction phase of our new Cosford airbase and charity headquarters to ensure it has all the requirements to help us futureproof our lifesaving service and continue to always put patient care and safety first above anything else.
“I have had the pleasure to work with Ian for more than 15 years and beyond am proud that he has been recognised for his dedication to saving lives across the Midlands.”
Julian Spiers, critical care paramedic and Strensham airbase team leader for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Ian’s relaxed yet no nonsense approach has made him a popular and indispensable member of our charity’s Senior Leadership Team. His Lifetime Achievement Award is truly deserved for his commitment to patient care.”
Find out more about the lifesaving work of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s clinical team by visiting the clinical webpages and following the organisation on social media.