The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) is celebrating after winning an award at the final of the North East Business Awards yesterday.
The charity was presented with the Services Award, beating off stiff competition from Reeves Independent Limited and Concept IT Services.
Representatives from different departments within GNAAS, including marketing, IT, operations and fundraising celebrated the win together at Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield, which were hosting the awards.
David Stockton, the chief executive officer from GNAAS, dedicated the award to the charity’s staff and volunteers.
He said: “We are thrilled to have not only won the Services Award in the Teesside heat but in the final as well. We pride ourselves on delivering a world-class service to our patients and also our supporters, which is only possible thanks to the efforts of our critical care team on the frontline, as well as our colleagues who work behind the scenes and our selfless volunteers.
“It’s been fantastic to celebrate this win with some of our colleagues and we offer our congratulations to all the winners and finalists.”
GNAAS celebrated its 20th birthday as a registered charity this year and their critical care team has responded to more than 23,500 incidents during this time. Other milestones they’ve achieved include introducing doctors on board their aircraft and rapid response vehicles, delivering blood transfusions to more than 500 patients and performing successful roadside chest surgeries.
Andy Mawson, director of operations and paramedic at GNAAS said: “Since we began operating as a charity in 2002, we’ve always looked at ways to enhance and supplement our core service, which is treating the most seriously ill or injured people in the North.
“We’re very proud to have been recognised for the service we deliver, which experienced high demand last year, as we responded to 1,620 incidents, of which 863 were in the North East.
“This marked one of our busiest years on record and we expect this number to increase, as we work towards providing our service 24/7 across the region.
“Everything we have achieved since our formation as a charity has been thanks to the generosity of the public who have supported us for 20 years. With the continued support of the public we hope to offer our service for the next 20 years and beyond.”
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