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Air Ambulance Doctor becomes EMAS’ new Medical Director

Dr Leon Roberts MBE was appointed as East Midlands Ambulance Service’s (EMAS) new medical director late last month and is now responsible for maintaining and improving clinical standards of 999 care across six counties. Flying weekly with the Derbyshire, Leicestershire Rutland Air Ambulance for the past seven years, Dr Roberts was awarded the MBE in 2010 for his voluntary prehospital emergency care work along with his military service with the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Dr Roberts worked as an Army senior doctor, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, after studying medicine at Leeds University. His overseas tours of duty include Sierra Leone, Belize, Uganda, Kenya, Canada, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. As well his impressive Army as working as a HEMS Doctor for our lifesaving charity, Dr Roberts is currently also a GP in Oakham, Urgent Care Doctor at Corby, and now the Medical Director at EMAS.

Speaking of his appointment, Dr Roberts said: “It is important to me that everybody delivering care at EMAS felt like they were doing it under a medical director who understood, who delivers care in similar circumstances and wouldn’t ask crews to do anything that he wouldn’t be prepared to do himself. The best care happens when different parts of the NHS work together, and I am keen to combine my primary care skills and knowledge with my pre-hospital and in hospital experience to develop the most effective care pathways for patients. I am extremely proud of the compassion and commitment shown by teams across EMAS every day as they respond to the challenges we face to provide effective care.”