Uni’s paramedics class ready to take up duties (From Worcester News)

Uni’s paramedics class ready to take up duties

1:03pm Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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SEVENTEEN new paramedics trained at the University of Worcester will be hitting the streets of the West Midlands this Easter. They are the second intake to complete the university’s new pre-hospital, unscheduled and emergency care foundation degree course, which was launched three years ago. All have now secured employment with either West Midlands ambulance service (WMAS) NHS Trust or Great Western ambulance service NHS Trust. Course leader Sharon Hardwick said: “This group, as a whole, has obtained some impressive grades and have worked really hard at becoming excellent, knowledgeable paramedics. Paramedics are an essential frontline service dealing with a vast range of emergency medical illness and traumatic injury. This course is challenging but very rewarding.” The degree course is one of only a handful in Britain and has the fastest growing application rate within the University of Worcester. Undergraduates carry out a range of practical workbased training and in-depth theoretical study, including advanced anatomy and physiology. They also complete more than 1,500 hours of practical service during the two-year course, which is run in partnership with WMAS. The University of Worcester also offers a technician to paramedic course, which is designed to provide progression and career opportunities for existing technicians who work within ambulance services. Students on the programme are seconded by their ambulance trust over a 30-week period. On successful completion of the programme, students will be eligible to register as paramedic practitioners with the Health Professions Council. For information visit worcester. ac.uk, call 01905 855111, or email admissions@ worc.ac.uk.

PICTURE CAPTION: WE’RE READY FOR ANYTHING: These paramedics have all worked hard and got jobs with the health services.