Air Ambulances UK Leads calls for Air Ambulance Crews to be Eligible for Platinum Jubilee Medals

Air Ambulances UK has led a coordinated response with air ambulance charities and MPs to request the inclusion of air ambulance crew in the award of the Platinum Jubilee Medal by writing to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid MP.

The Platinum Jubilee Medal is a special commemorative medal that will be awarded to serving frontline members of the police, fire, emergency services, prison services and the Armed Forces to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The medals traditionally act as a token of the nation’s thanks.

Presently air ambulance teams are excluded if they do not hold an NHS contract of employment despite them being emergency first responders who have worked alongside the NHS with the frontline Covid-19 response.

Air Ambulances UK CEO, Simmy Akhtar says

The air ambulance community across the UK work tirelessly to care for patients who have unfortunately suffered a sudden traumatic injury or a medical emergency.  Teams responded quickly and adapted their services so that they could continue to provide lifesaving care to patients throughout the pandemic alongside supporting the NHS with the frontline Covid-19 response.  To be excluded in the award of the Platinum Jubilee Medal on a technical point is a huge injustice to air ambulance emergency first responders and we would welcome a reversal of this decision

Read the full letter to The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care:

09032022 Letter to The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP – Platinum Jubilee Medals

We sincerely hope that this decision will be reversed and that air ambulance teams will be recognised for their lifesaving work in communities across the UK.