A FORMER Cowdenbeath paramedic has been awarded the Queen's Ambulance Service Medal. 

Lewis Campbell, who is now the regional director for the Scottish Ambulance Service east region, was named in the Queen's Birthday Honours list on Friday. 

Some of his key roles have included keeping people safe at events like T in the Park, The Open golf championship and the RAF Leuchars air show. 

Mr Campbell, who is based in Dundee, started out as a paramedic and team leader responding to 999 calls in Cowdenbeath. 

He is now responsible for the delivery of accident and emergency and patient transport services throughout the east of Scotland. 

Mr Campbell has been with the service for 34 years and said: “It is a great honour to receive the Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal for doing a job that I care passionately about. 

"It’s important to recognise that I am supported in my role by an incredibly hard working and dedicated team as we strive to further improve patient-centred care across east central Scotland and beyond.”

His citation read: "Lewis is the type of person who just gets on with things in an unassuming manner and is able to use his knowledge, skills and experience to build relationships, particularly with trade unions and staff, to ensure change is fully supported and delivered."

It concluded: "In summary, Lewis has very much demonstrated exemplary and distinguished service to patients, staff and the organisation as a whole."

Mr Campbell's introduction of community paramedics in Forth Valley "significantly improved patient experience by reducing unnecessary admission to hospital", his team won the gold award in the Healthy Working Lives initiative and his implementation of a national resource planning system allowed more than 4,000 staff at over 150 locations to manage their shift planning, annual leave and sickness. 

He is now leading a review of the Scheduled Care Patient Transport Service. 

Pauline Howie, Scottish Ambulance Service chief executive, said, "I am delighted that Lewis’s commitment and dedication to patient care throughout his ambulance service career has been recognised in this year’s honours. 

"He always leads by example and has played a significant role in the development of new initiatives and innovations that have benefitted patients and staff."