IN just three days, over 1,000 people applied to become a lifesaver in the West Midlands.

Together with hundreds of students, West Midlands Ambulance Service is enacting unprecedented plans to protect the public and save lives.

The ambulance service has put plans that will see a substantial increase in staff numbers and upskilling hundreds of existing staff so that they can help the public.

Over recent weeks, the ambulance service has increased the number of call assessors in both 999 and 111 control rooms, but last weekend they asked for applications to increase that number further.

In just 72 hours, over 1,000 people had applied.

In addition, the trust has been working with Worcester University to recruit third year paramedic students.

These are students who are just weeks away from qualifying and have spent thousands of hours on ambulances, working with staff, treating patients.

They are very well trained and experienced already.

All of them will work with fully qualified paramedics and technicians on the road.

Nathan Hudson, emergency services operations delivery director, said: “We are receiving huge support from our university students who are desperate to do their part to help the nation at this time. Many are already very familiar to our staff and the response we have had from the team at Bromsgrove has been incredible with the students made to feel very welcome.

“These students would have qualified over the next few weeks as HCPC registered paramedics so are a tremendous asset for us and I have no doubt that they will help to save many lives over the coming weeks. I am incredibly proud of the students and also our staff for doing the right thing to help patients.”