Working as a Paramedic, you never know what you’ll be faced with. One job can vary hugely to the next, and you are always kept on your toes. On top of this, I like being out and about all the time with changing environments. You start your day in station and from there who knows where you’ll end up. It makes a 12-hour shift go quick, and adds a lot of enjoyment for me in the job.

There can be many routine calls which you attend, but some patients have remarkable stories to tell. I have spoken to World War 2 Veterans, people with remarkable careers, and people who have achieved amazing feats. As a Paramedic, I get to hear all of these amazing stories, whilst being able to help the individuals. It makes the job exciting as it is different every day.

One of the things I really enjoy about being a Paramedic is that you are always encouraged to learn and develop. There are a number of resources, such as www.ambulancecpd.com, which make learning easier and more attainable. The role of a Paramedic has developed significantly since I first started in 2011. There has been a lot more responsibility added to the role, but by continuing to learn and keep on top of my CPD, I have been able to feel confident in the new aspects.

There are also many routes you can develop from the Paramedic role. You can now specialise in certain areas, such as trauma, advanced practice, palliative care, research, etc… There are plenty of options available for further education, such as doing masters degrees in specialised subjects. There are various Paramedic roles you can take outside of the Ambulance Services, such as working for private companies, other organisations within the NHS, or setting up your own business. The choice is far greater now, and it continues to develop and expand as time moves on.

Being a Paramedic, you get to meet and work with some fascinating individuals. Within my area, there are loads of colleagues who I am good friends with, and working together or attending jobs, it makes the shift a breeze. I think as you are working with your colleagues so often, spending so much time with them, and then attending sometimes traumatic or difficult incidents, you build deep relationships. You get a sense of strong camaraderie and teamwork. Your colleagues really do become your work family.

I’ve been within healthcare and the NHS for over 10 years, and although you do change roles or move into new positions, you always maintain strong friendships with colleagues. I have bumped into people who I haven’t seen in a while, and the strong bonds of friendship and teamwork are still there. Ambulance Staff on the whole are a friendly group, and I am proud to be able to work with such an amazing team.

The whole point of the Paramedic role is to be able to provide emergency medical treatment in the pre-hospital environment. All of your training and development focuses on this. Not every job you attend will be a ‘life or death’ situation, and increasingly over the years, our role has gone heavily over to treating more primary care complaints. Every now and again though, you will attend a job where every action you make counts.

Unfortunately, we can’t save everyone, but knowing you were there to try and make a difference helps. When you are able to save a life, it is a remarkable feeling. That is the reason why I became a Paramedic in the first place, and it is amazing to think there are people walking around today because of what I was able to do to help.