VOLUNTEER immediate care doctors from Devon have been awarded their Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medals.

The medals, which were awarded by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Officer Will Warrender at iconic Devon beach, Mothecombe, act as a token of the nation’s thanks to those who diligently serve the public.

Volunteer medics from BASICS Devon, doctors providing immediate access to specialist medical care at the scene of an accident or illness, finally got an evening together to celebrate their medal and coin, ending their presentation with an idyllic team sea swim.

Medals have been awarded to serving frontline members of the police, fire, emergency services, prison services and Armed Forces.

The BASICS Devon team have some members that have been volunteer responding for 30 years.

Dr Marc Epps said: ‘I am delighted BASICS scheme members are being recognised and am honoured to receive a medal.’

BASICS Devon doctors make themselves available around the clock throughout the year,  responding to incidents at the request of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust - the charity relies solely on donations.

The doctors aim to provide a fast response to incidents in   rural areas and use their extensive skills to support patient care.

Since January BASICS Devon doctors have attended as many as  241 callouts, 67 of which were at night and they arrived first on the scene at 40% of them.

The British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS) is a registered charity and has been involved with providing immediate care via a nationwide network of affiliated schemes, such as BASICS Devon, since 1977.

The overall rationale for an affiliated scheme is the provision of skilled pre-hospital immediate care by appropriately trained and experienced health care professionals drawn from the medical, nursing and paramedic professions.