Posted 9th October 2020 | No Comments

Northern train driver awarded BEM for work as paramedic

A NORTHERN train driver who worked as a paramedic after the COVID-19 outbreak started has been included in the Queen’s Honours List.

Jolene Miller from Stockton-on-Tees receives a British Empire Medal for services to the NHS.

The medal is given in recognition of service to the community which can include charitable or voluntary activities.

Jolene said: ‘It’s been so surreal, I can’t believe it, I’m really proud but still in shock. There’s still lots of people I know working in the NHS and fighting coronavirus day in day out while I spent a few months working back in a hospital. I just wanted to use the skills I had.’

Former paramedic Jolene worked at Darlington Memorial Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department as a liaison officer. She assessed patients as they arrived by ambulance, enabling them to get the most appropriate care, and looked after the patients until rooms became available. This allowed the full-time paramedics to get back on the road as quickly as possible.