UK’s first female Chief Paramedic receives new honour recognising distinguished career spanning more than 30 years

London Ambulance Service’s Chief Paramedic Pauline Cranmer (QAM) has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of West London (UWL) in recognition of her contribution to the field over the course of her career.

Pauline was appointed chief paramedic at London Ambulance Service last May, marking the first time a woman anywhere in the country has held the role. She recently joined a ceremony held at the university to receive her Honorary Doctor of Letters.

Addressing the assembled graduands, Pauline said:

“You are entering a profession that is as challenging as it is rewarding. You will be the calm in the chaos and the voice of reassurance. You will make a difference. Never underestimate the power of compassion, nor the impact that your presence will make in someone’s most vulnerable moments.

“At the heart of everything we do, every shift, every decision, every innovation is a patient. The patient is our purpose, their dignity, their safety, their wellbeing must always guide our actions.”

Speaking of the honour, London Ambulance Service Chief Executive Jason Killens said:

“Pauline is a great role model and I’m delighted that her career at London Ambulance Service continues to go from strength to strength.

“After 30 years, she has so much experience and knowledge of London, of paramedicine, and of our healthcare system which she continues to draw on each day for the benefit of our people and our patients.”

The honorary degree is the latest accolade in a long and successful career in paramedicine. Pauline joined the London Ambulance Service in 1994 as an Ambulance Technician and qualified as a Paramedic in 1996. She has undertaken leadership roles at every level within the organisation, culminating in her current role as Chief Paramedic Officer, an integral part of the executive board of the Trust.

In her role, Pauline has executive responsibility for clinical education from entry level through to specialist and advanced practise, operational delivery, and emergency preparedness, resilience, and response. She is also the Accountable Emergency Officer for the London Ambulance Service. Additionally, she serves as the executive lead for the Trust for Safeguarding, sexual safety at work and the Women’s Network.

As Chair of the National Ambulance Education Network, Pauline brings together all trusts to focus on developing and improving education for clinicians within organisations, working closely with the College of Paramedics and Higher Education Institutions. In 2024 Pauline took on the responsibility for the NHS Emergency Capabilities Unit (formally known as the National Ambulance Resilience Unit) providing leadership for the national preparedness of interoperability emergency health capabilities.

An experienced Strategic/Gold commander since 2013, Pauline has managed both planned and unplanned events and led the response to the Westminster Bridge terror attack.

She is skilled in emergency management and response, team building, succession planning, and organisational structure change and delivery. Pauline was awarded the Queen Ambulance Medal for distinguished service in the sector in 2019.

For more information about career opportunities at London Ambulance Service visit our careers page on our website.