NHS Forth Valley Senior Staff Nurse Kevin McCloskey (right) and former NHS Forth Valley Resuscitation Officer in Forth Valley, Graeme Ramage, are officially “wee gems”. They’ve been awarded The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for their volunteering work which helps save lives.

Both are members of BASICS (British Association of Immediate Care Schemes) and as responders, are part of a scheme which enables the Scottish Ambulance Service to call them out to accidents, cardiac arrests and other life-threatening emergencies either ahead of ambulance resources or to assist them. They can also be called out to form part of a Major Incident Team in Forth Valley if required.

BASICS is a charity which delivers education in pre-hospital emergency care to health professionals in remote and rural parts of Scotland, and the pair also volunteer as instructors.