DORSET and Somerset Air Ambulance is celebrating after scooping a national Health Business Award for Air Ambulance Service of the Year 2014.

The awards promote excellence and best practice in hospitals, trusts, clinical commissioning groups and other organisations working in or with the NHS. This year’s ceremony took place this month at the Grange Hotel in London.

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance received the award in recognition of innovation, commitment and passion for excellence in their post-graduate education programme ‘Advanced Paramedic Practice’, which is run with the University of Hertfordshire and is offered to all their paramedics.

Bill Sivewright, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance chief executive officer said: “We are constantly striving to look for new and innovative ways in which we can enhance the service for the benefit of our patients and we are extremely proud to have received this award.

“This award recognises the contribution made by our crew, staff, trustees and volunteers to develop and deliver our life-saving service.

“It also shows the part played by the general public who support us so generously and we say a big thank you to them.”

Since its launch in March 2000, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance have attended more than 10,000 incidents.

Pictured right are Karen Hopps, publisher of Health Business Magazine, Bill Sivewright, DSAA chief executive officer, Tina Viksna, DSAA fundraising manager and Dr Sarah Jarvis.