AN AMBULANCE service director has been honoured by the Queen in the New Year Honours List – and dedicated his award to family and colleagues.
Derek Cartwright, director of operations at The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), will receive the Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal.
Derek, who has worked for the ambulance service for almost 30 years, is one of five recipients of the medal, which is awarded to members of the NHS ambulance service who have demonstrated exemplary, distinguished and meritorious service.
Based at the trust’s headquarters in Bolton, Greater Manchester, Derek regularly travels the length and breadth of the region to carry out his duties.
He said: “I’m very proud to be awarded the Queens Ambulance Medal. I wish to thank the North West Ambulance Service for my nomination and also my family who have supported me over the years in the work I do, which at times can lead to a very disruptive family life, I can’t remember when I last saw in a New Year at home with my family!”
“My career with the ambulance service spans almost three decades and throughout that time I have worked with a lot of great people focused on providing the best possible service to the people of the North West. My acceptance of The Queens Ambulance Medal is on behalf of all those good people many of whom continue to work tirelessly to improve the quality of the service that we provide for our patients.”
Derek began his ambulance career in 1986, working on the patient transport service for two years before progressing into the emergency service.
He continued to develop and rise through the ranks, taking on training and management roles before being appointed onto the former Greater Manchester Ambulance Service Board in 2003.
On establishment of the North West Ambulance Service in 2006, Derek was appointed to the post of Area Director for the Cumbria and Lancashire area and subsequently became the director of emergency services for NWAS in 2009.
Derek was appointed as director of operations in March 2014 after acting to this role since 2012.
Bob Williams, NWAS chief executive, who nominated Derek for the award, said: “I’ve known Derek for a very long time and his commitment to the ambulance service, and in particular its staff, is unending. He is a great asset to the trust, a much valued member of the board and this award is very much deserved.”
Derek is the second NWAS manager to receive the award after Cumbria and Lancashire Head of Service, Peter Mulcahy in 2012.
He lives in Bolton with wife Joanne, and has four grown children and one grandchild. He is a lifelong supporter of Bolton Wanderers, a registered beekeeper and keeps chickens..
