SW Ambulance Service celebrates International Paramedics Day

This International Paramedics Day (Monday 8 July) the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) celebrated the 2,000 plus paramedics who deliver dedicated patient care to communities across the south west.

SWASFT paramedics' work in a wide variety of roles at the Trust, from responding to patients face-to-face in a medical emergency, to working in our 999 Emergency Operations Centres to remotely treat patients, to holding senior leadership roles across the Trust, including, Chief Executive, Dr John Martin who is also a paramedic.

Each year, paramedics, and other frontline clinicians and support staff from SWASFT:

• Manage around one million incidents across the south west
• Travel over 22 million miles
• Have access to over 670 vehicles, including ambulances and rapid response vehicles
• Are supported by 600 plus volunteers, including Community First Responders and doctors
• Work out of over 130 sites, including two Emergency Operation Centres and 96 ambulance stations

Neil Lentern, Director of Paramedic Practice at the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, who is also a paramedic himself, said: “As paramedics, we are often the first point of contact for those in need of urgent medical care. Our role is critical, not only in providing immediate life-saving interventions, but also in offering reassurance and compassion during some of the most challenging moments in people’s lives.

“In line with the theme for this year, ‘The Difference We Make’, I see and know the difference that our paramedics make every day, as a dedicated team delivering compassionate patient care as well as looking out for each other.

“On International Paramedics Day, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each member of our team at the South Western Ambulance Service and to paramedics across the world. Your dedication, skill, and compassion are truly inspiring."

On International Paramedics Day, Newly Qualified Paramedic, Ann-Marie Bryant, said: “The role of a paramedic is sometimes challenging, it involves problem solving and working with some amazing teams.

“We all say that we do the job for the patients and that’s what it’s all about. You can be with someone through the worst day of their life or equally the best and that is an honour.”

To learn more about paramedic job opportunities at SWASFT visit: https://www.swasft-joinus.co.uk/.

The theme of this year’s International Paramedics Day was, 'The Difference We Make'. It was an opportunity to acknowledge the great contribution paramedics, first responders and community volunteers make every day from responding to life threatening emergencies to providing care and comfort to patients in their hour of need.