A highly respected clinician at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) has been recognised for three decades of dedication to emergency care and the ambulance service.
Dr Alison Walker, consultant in Emergency Medicine and Clinical Lead for Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response at HDFT, has been awarded the King’s Ambulance Medal for her dedication and contribution to developing the ambulance service nationally.
The King’s Ambulance Medal (KAM) for distinguished service was introduced (as the Queen’s Ambulance Medal for distinguished service) in 2011 and became the King’s Ambulance Service Medal (KAM) for distinguished service in December 2022.
The medal honours a very small number of ambulance staff (up to four per year in England) for distinguished service to the public or profession in their operational roles, placing them on a par with other uniformed staff in the police and the fire and rescue service who can be awarded the King’s Police Medal and the King’s Fire Service Medal under the New Year and Birthday Honours lists.
As well as her role at HDFT, Alison is currently Chair of the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee, which sets the clinical guidelines for all UK ambulance services.
She also responds as a BASICS (British Association for Immediate Care) emergency doctor providing advanced, hospital-level care at the scene of serious 999 emergencies.
Dr Walker said:
“I am absolutely delighted with the award, if slightly taken aback that I have been nominated when so many people in the ambulance service work so hard day in day out.
“I still love treating patients and seeing that, as a team, the difference we can make to patient’s lives on what is probably the worst day of their life.
“Equally, I am also incredibly proud of the work I have done with colleagues behind the scenes developing the paramedic profession and know that our work has helped to save countless lives.”
Alison graduated in dentistry in June 1987 and in medicine in June 1995. She started teaching student paramedics in 1996.
She has held senior medical leadership roles across multiple ambulance services, including Medical Director positions at West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, and West Midlands Ambulance Service.
Dr Walker was a recipient of a prestigious Medal from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in 2022 for her work strengthening links between emergency medicine and the ambulance services, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024, Alison was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Science by Coventry University for her contribution to the enhancement of pre-hospital care across the West Midlands and the country.
Dr Jacqueline Andrews, HDFT’s Executive Medical Director said:
“Alison’s award is a fitting tribute for her long and successful career in the NHS. In all of her patient facing and clinical leadership roles she has shown an unwavering commitment to improving the experiences of patients and colleagues.
“We are delighted she has been recognised for her dedication to her work in this way.”
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