Paramedic announced as King's Ambulance Service Medal recipient

A Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) paramedic who has played an instrumental role in shaping Scotland’s Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest strategy has been awarded the King’s Ambulance Medal (KAM) in the New Year Honours.

Dave Bywater, SAS’s Lead Consultant Paramedic, has dedicated the prestigious accolade, which acknowledges staff who’ve displayed exceptional devotion to duty, to his late dad Tom and daughter Rachel.

Originally from Aberfeldy, but now living in Dalgety Bay, Dave joined SAS in 1996, starting out as an ambulance care assistant in Pitlochry. He qualified as a paramedic in 2001 before going on to join the Service’s Special Operations Response Team (SORT) in Edinburgh. His career has since spanned roles including Clinical Advisor, Practice Placement Educator and now, Lead Consultant Paramedic.

In addition to his work with SAS, Dave has also been heavily involved with BASICS Scotland, serving as Vice Chair and Chair and a clinical educator for many years. He is also a reservist with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) and is a volunteer instructor with the Advanced Life Support Group in Aberdeen and Manchester.

Dave said: “It’s a tremendous honour and an amazing thing to receive - I am truly honoured. I’d like to dedicate this to Rachel and my dad Tom – they are a huge inspiration to me and both would have been over the moon that I’ve received this award.”

Michael Dickson, SAS Chief Executive said: “I want to give a huge congratulations to Dave who is fully deserving of this honour.

"Dave is a hugely respected member of the Scottish Ambulance Service and his leadership, clinical expertise and commitment to our patients exemplify the very best of our Service. We are incredibly proud to see his work recognised through this award.”

He has also worked Police Scotland to reform the pre-hospital child death process, resulting in a national change in practice, and has had a leading role with the Scottish Cardiac Arrest Symposium and worked with the British Heart Foundation to develop a UK-wide solution for Public Access Defibrillator utilisation.

His said other highlights during his time at SAS include representing SAS at both the Cenotaph in 2022 and the King’s Coronation in 2023 as well as being in command roles at large events such the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, SAS’s Covid 19 response and the COP 26 conference.

He added: “Although I’m lucky enough to be in a leadership role, I still love the times I get to be out on the road and care for patients, whether in a car, ambulance or with SCAA. After all these years, it still amazes me the professionalism of everybody. #

“The care and compassion shown to me this year from everyone at the Service has been outstanding. This is an outstanding organisation and as an individual, I feel privileged to have worked in the Service for all these years.”