A paramedic who specialises in caring for patients whose weight affects their health has won a top award.

David Sexby’s award for quality in education and training from Health Education East of England at a ceremony on Thursday recognised the success of an East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust pilot project involving an ambulance fitted out for heavyweight patients.

Specialist equipment includes a mechanical CPR device, allowing better cardiac arrest management and safer transport to hospital, which is such a success it will now be fitted to ambulance officer cars to support frontline crews.

And a total of 16 sets of bariatric equipment, including a larger lifting cushion, an electronic stretcher and the mechanical CPR device, will soon be rolled out to 999 crews across the region.