Two Prestigious National Awards for London District

London District's Commercial Transport Service and Cycle Response Unit are celebrating after picking up two awards at this year's Ambulance Service Institute Awards.

A fantastic honour

Sponsored by Baroness Browning of Whimple, the Awards reflect and acknowledge the excellent work carried out by representatives of the Ambulance Service for their hard work and dedication in saving lives.

The prestigious accolade of Private Ambulance Service Team of the Year was awarded to the Commercial Transport Service (CTS) in recognition of its work in transporting intensive care patients. To add to the celebrations, the Cycle Response Unit (CRU) was crowned Voluntary Ambulance Service Team of the Year.

Both teams collected their awards in a formal ceremony at the House of Lords on Wednesday 27th October.

Dr Peter Griffin, Chairman of the ASI Awards Panel, said: 'The ASI Awards Panel is very happy to make these awards to St John Ambulance London (Prince of Wales's) District. The ambulance crews were specifically praised for their consistent and reliable service, and the CRU team has clearly become a major tool in delivering pre-hospital care.'

London's Commercial Transport Service, which is based at London District, near Marylebone, was nominated by South Thames Retrieval Service (STRS) and Children's Acute Transport Service (CATS) and who work with the charity's team to convey critically ill children from, District General Hospitals throughout the South East, to Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) within the London area.

Together, they collect children who have become acutely unwell and require the skills and facilities only provided in a PICU setting.

Martin Henderson, Deputy CEO of St John Ambulance London (Prince of Wales's) District, said: 'This is a fantastic honour and we are thrilled to be collecting the award in recognition of our service.

'We enjoy superb relationships with South Thames Retrieval Service and The Children's Acute Transport Service, and this award is recognition of that close and successful rapport which really makes a difference to so many lives across the South East.'

The Cycle Response Unit provides emergency first aid that compliments the operational role of St John Ambulance in the communities that it serves across the Capital. The team can be seen at both community and high profile events including the Virgin London Marathon, Notting Hill Carnival, Brick Lane Mela and Wimbledon tennis tournament.

The team uses specially equipped mountain bicycles to carry advanced first aid equipment – including an Automated External Defibrillator and medical gases – and throughout the year has made the difference to countless lives across the Capital.

Team manager Ashley Sweetland, who leads operational cycling for St John Ambulance, said: 'We are absolutely delighted to be receiving the award for the Voluntary Ambulance Service Team of the Year 2010. It is hugely satisfying to see our volunteers recognised in this way and is particularly special given that it comes after recognition by the Mayor of London earlier this year.

Cycle Response Unit volunteers are highly trained to the National Cycling Standards and undertake the Public Safety Cycling Advanced Training Course.