HAVING recruited in excess of 400 student paramedics in 2014/15, the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has announced another bid to encourage more people to apply for a job and start a new career in the ambulance service.
In particular, they are seeking applicants from West Essex to help boost numbers in the area.
Replicating last year, the new programme aims to recruit 400 student paramedics; contracts have already been offered to about 200 people and Chief Executive Anthony Marsh said the service was hoping that hundreds more potential applicants would come forward to fulfil the remaining 200.
“We have the most ambitious paramedic recruitment campaign in the country,” he said. “Not only have we already recruited more than 400 student paramedics, we are going to replicate that again this year. Taking on more paramedics will help us to continue to improve the caring service we give to patients.”
The service’s Consultant Paramedic Marcus Bailey, who leads the training and development programme, said: “It’s hard work but it’s a very fulfilling role because you can make a difference to a person’s life in just a few moments. We want caring, compassionate people with a commitment to patient care, so we would really encourage them to apply now.”
Student paramedics go through eight weeks of training in the classroom and three weeks of blue-light driver training before starting on the front-line. They then receive three more weeks of classroom training in their first nine months as students. During the 12 – 18 months which follow, studies involved a mix of classroom and practical work delivered through either the University of East Anglia or Anglia Ruskin University.
To apply to become a student paramedic, check out http://www.eastamb.nhs.uk/working-for-us/student-paramedic-programme.htm which includes videos on classroom training and a brochure with frequently asked questions.
You can also attend some open evening events in Melbourn, South Cambs, on 3, 4 & 5 March from 5.45-8pm where prospective applicants can meet some of the teams on the frontline and learn more about the paramedic role.
