I’m back where I belong, says reinstated Shropshire first responder Effie
She's spent more than a decade reassuring, comforting and caring for her community, and now Effie Cadwallader has had some of that kindness repaid.
The community first responder, from St Martins near Oswestry, today says she's "blown away" by the way the people of the village and surrounding areas have rallied behind her after she was dismissed for shredding patient forms.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said Mrs Cadwallader had breached the Data Protection Act in destroying the records but she insisted she shredded the forms in the interest of patient confidentiality.
But following a meeting with Nathan Hudson, a senior official of WMAS, Mrs Cadwallader was reinstated immediately.
She said today: "I was keen to not only clear my reputation but also get reinstated for all those who have supported me and had spoken up for me. I feel I owe it to them really.
"Of course I was apprehensive about coming back, I was able to book back in as soon as 7.30am on Saturday and that felt nice and normal but I was worried about how I'd feel once I was called out but I've found that I've slotted back in right away and it feels right to be back.
"Really I'd just like to thank everyone who has supported me, everyone who has stood up for me, everyone has been absolutely amazing and I can't thank you all enough. There's been no end of hugs, emails, phone calls, even boxes of chocolates. It's been just astonishing."
Mrs Cadwallader was even greeted with cheers and a round of applause on her first visit, since her reinstatement, to village supermarket Stans Superstore, which set up a petition to get her back in her voluntary post.
Now Mrs Cadwallader, whose on duty every day of the year – except for when she goes on holiday – is looking forward to some normality.
She added: "No two jobs I get called out to are ever the same and we deal with some horrible stuff but I'm glad to be back.
"Before meeting with the ambulance Trust on Friday I made a wish list and on the top of that list was for a CFR to never be put in the position I was put in again and to be reinstated, and I think both have been achieved, and I'm absolutely thrilled."
