Pauline Cranmer has worked for LAS for 30 years

Pauline Cranmer (credit London Ambulance Service)

London Ambulance Service (LAS) has appointed the UK’s first female chief paramedic.

Pauline Cranmer has had a “distinguished career” spanning 30 years in the capital and, following an open external recruitment campaign, has been appointed to lead the service.

Pauline joined LAS in 1994 as a technician before qualifying as a paramedic. She is also an experienced strategic commander and led the response to the Westminster Bridge terror attack.

Throughout her career Pauline has always shown her devotion to duty – an accolade which saw her awarded the prestigious Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal in 2019.

She said: “This senior executive paramedic role is the opportunity to blaze the trail for all those that come after me. It is a real opportunity to help develop the profession of paramedicine itself, and the people within it. I am looking forward to developing and enhancing further improvements to the care we are able to give patients in London.

“I’m also really proud to be reaching 30 years in the service. I feel a combination of emotions about it. I feel really proud, but a bit shocked – because it’s a long time –and also a bit reflective of all the different things I’ve done during my career. It feels like such a big milestone.

“But overall I am just so excited for the future at London Ambulance Service.”

Formally welcoming Pauline to the executive team, chief executive Daniel Elkeles said: “After 30 years at London Ambulance Service, Pauline brings experience and an intricate knowledge of London’s health system to our leadership team and we’re lucky to have someone who is so committed to developing our staff.

“She’s a great role-model and she continues to develop her career at London Ambulance Service and help shape the organisation so it can continue to care our patients in the years ahead.”

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