A PARAMEDIC who is helping to develop and improve pre-hospital emergency care for patients across West Yorkshire has received a top award.

Cathryn James, of Honley, was voted Manager of the Year at West Yorkshire ambulance service's awards evening in Leeds.

And other ambulance staff from across Kirklees won awards at the event in the banqueting suite at Leeds United's Elland Road ground.

The evening recognised the dedication and hard work of staff from across the service with 11 awards up for grabs.

They included Patient Transport Services Ambulance Person of the Year, Public Spirit Award, Volunteer of the Year and the Modernisation Award.

Mother-of-two Cathryn joined the service in 1981 as a cadet at Honley station. She

is now a clinical effectiveness manager.

Her role has seen her take a lead in studies and new schemes to improve patient care.

This year Cathryn and a team of Bradford emergency crews worked closely with nurses from the city to assess elderly and vulnerable patients who had fallen at home.

The project helped to prevent further falls, educate patients and get them the right treatment.

Cathryn said: "I'm shocked, surprised and pleased to receive this award."

Two Kirklees women were highly commended in the Patient Transport Service Ambulance Person Of The Year category.

Shirley Radley works out of the Honley ambulance station and has been with the service for 15 years.

A colleague said: "Shirley is always putting patients first, always full of cheer and always focused on the job at hand."

Marjorie Dransfield works in Dewsbury.

Staff say she is incredibly flexible and willing to work extra hours at short notice.

A colleague said: "It's been said that if we were looking to clone the ideal model for an ambulance person, we need look no further than Marj."

John Stone, of Cleckheaton, was highly commended in the Volunteer Of The Year category.

He has been with the service for more than 20 years and is a volunteer patient transport driver in Dewsbury, taking people to and from hospital appointments.

The Modernisation Award was won by the service's 18-strong Careline team.

This phone response service helps the elderly and vulnerable to live safely and independently.

Careline's manager, Sheron Hobson, said: "Everyone using the service has a phone line and emergency alarms placed throughout their homes."