Elena Lewis – Tuesday 30th December 2025 – 9.05am
A doctor who has helped develop the ambulance service nationally over the last 30 years has been recognised in the King’s New Years Honour’s List
Dr Alison Walker has been awarded the King’s Ambulance Medal, recognising her dedication and distinguished service to the ambulance sector.
She started working with West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) in 2010 as its interim Medical Director before taking the position on a permanent basis between 2019 and 2024.
Alison is currently Chair of the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee which sets the clinical guidelines for all UK ambulance services. She also responds as a BASICS (British Association for Immediate Care) emergency doctor providing advanced, hospital-level care at the scene of serious 999 emergencies and continues to work as Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr Walker said: “I am absolutely delighted with the award, if slightly taken aback that I have been nominated when so many people in the ambulance service work so hard, day in day out.
“I still love treating patients and seeing that, as a team, the difference we can make to patient’s lives on what is probably the worst day of their life. Equally, I am also incredibly proud of the work I have done with colleagues behind the scenes developing the paramedic profession and know that our work has helped to save countless lives.”
Alison graduated in dentistry in June 1987 and in medicine in June 1995. She started teaching student paramedics in 1996. She became Medical Director with West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service in 2005 before taking up the same role with Yorkshire Ambulance Service the following year.
She received a prestigious Royal College of Emergency Medicine Medal in 2022 for her work developing links between emergency medicine and the ambulance services, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024, Dr Walker was also presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Science by Coventry University for her contribution to the enhancement of pre-hospital care across the West Midlands and the country.
WMAS Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, added: “I have known Alison for many years and in that time watched how her contribution to the Trust has made a remarkable impact to the care we give our patients.
“Alison is a hugely well-respected clinical leader in our country and I am incredibly proud to hear of her recognition for the years of hard work.”
The Trust’s successor as Medical Director, Dr Richard Steyn, said: “I have worked with Alison over many years and the time, energy and drive that she has shown is second to none. There is no question that her work has saved lives both as a clinician but also in the way that she has developed ambulance services nationally and the paramedic profession in particular. This award is richly deserved.”
Association of Ambulance Chief Executives Managing Director, Anna Parry, added: “Alison continues to play an important role in ambulance services nationally. The Kings Ambulance Medal honours a very small, select group of ambulance personnel who have shown exceptional devotion to duty, outstanding ability, merit and conduct in their roles. Alison has all of these attributes and it is tremendous that her many years of work is being recognised in this way.”
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