Today, Monday 8 July , we come together to celebrate International Paramedics Day – a day created by the College of Paramedics in the UK and supported by other professional international paramedic organisations . The day is dedicated to recognising the outstanding contributions and tireless efforts of paramedics around the world.
Hear from Neil Lentern , Director of Paramedic Practice , as he shares a few words in a video message below:
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role?
I am originally from New Zealand and have been living in the South West of England for almost 7 years now. Despite the many challenges of the role and being away from family can sometimes be really tough , I can say with hand on heart that I love working here. In addition to frontline paramedic shifts my passions see me as an Education Team Leader for the Learning and Development department. I am fortunate in the form that I can maintain my clinical competencies by working patient-facing shifts and to be able to deliver high quality education in the classroom. This makes for an incredible and unique role that I am honoured to hold within South Western Ambulance Service.Where has your Paramedic career taken you so far?
My paramedic career has taken me places I never thought I would experience in my lifetime. Being an internationally recognised profession, my career has seen me work throughout New Zealand and has let me
experience various paramedic conferences in Australia – then leading me to work in England. I have worked in ambulances, helicopters, hospitals, GP surgeries, mental health units, paediatric centres and cardiology units. I have enjoyed providing medical cover for a range of huge sporting events (including the English Premier League) and large music festivals. I have continuously developed throughout various roles within the ambulance service and have been continuing my higher education and professional development - I am also eagerly awaiting to start my post graduate certificates and master’s degree. I have met loads of incredible people along the way, many of which I can call friends for life!
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
Being a part of the Learning and Development department enables me to educate, develop and support various different colleagues throughout the Trust. By providing them with quality education and a great learning experience they can take their learning out into the field and apply this to their own practice, providing excellent patient care. Through this, I truly feel that I can impact many lives’ both directly & indirectly – making this a very rewarding career.
What’s the best thing about your job? / What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
The best part about my job is bringing out the best in my colleagues and watching them grow and develop and take on their own journey.
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role?
I am a registered midwife and I have specialised in pre-hospital maternity and newborn care for the past 3 years. I have recently joined SWAST as Specialist Lead for Midwifery. I am really excited to meet more people in the service and work together to improve care for women, birthing people and their families.
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
When paramedics and ambulance clinicians attend maternity and newborn patients, they have the opportunity to make a real impact during a transformative and special time in people’s lives. From a clinical perspective, high quality care during pregnancy and birth has a ripple effect across the life-span and makes a difference to the wider community. Women and their families will remember interactions with their healthcare providers during this vulnerable time, often for the rest of their lives.
What’s the best thing about your job? / What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
I absolutely love working with paramedics- their enthusiasm, kindness and professional curiosity is unparallelled. The best thing about my role is that it affords me the opportunity to work together with members from other professions, towards the same goal of improving care for women and their babies.
Anything else you would like to add?
If any SWAST colleagues would like to get in touch about maternity training, quality improvement ideas, or with questions, please get in touch: aimee.humphreys@swast.nhs.uk .
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role?
My name is Lauren and I recently graduated from Plymouth University in 2023 starting my Paramedic journey with the South Western Ambulance Service in August 2023. My current role is a N ewly Q ualified P aramedic and I love how every day I am learning something new. I love getting the opportunity to help and support patients as well as offering a hand for their loved ones to hold. I also enjoy spending time with those who live alone, offering some company and support and a smiling face to help get them through the day.
Where has your Paramedic career taken you so far?
As I am just starting out my career, I have so many exciting opportunities ahead. I enjoy having the chance to demonstrate basic life support/first aid to local schools in my area as this is something I would like to explore furthe r, teaching the next generation core life support skills to take throughout their lives.
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
As a paramedic, we generally tend to go to patients who are experiencing traumatic events or going through a crisis. If I am able to attend these patients (and their families) and make their worst day that little bit easier to get through with care, support, guidance and general empathy, I know I will have done my job and made a huge difference to these people and how they cope moving forward.
What’s the best thing about your job? / What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
To anyone thinking of pursuing a career in Paramedicine, I would say DO IT!! I have never looked back. The best thing about my job is getting to meet and help so many amazing people, from my incredible colleagues to the patients we see. I can pretty much talk for England and getting to talk to all of these incredible people is just the best. Not only this, every single day you learn something new and get the opportunities to expand your skills set and knowledge base to help others in need.
Anything else you would like to add?
Happy International Paramedics Day to my incredible green family. I couldn’t think of a better team to be on.
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role? 
My name is JP, and I’m a newly qualified Paramedic (NQP). In my current role, I am responsible for ensuring my patients receive timely care in a professional manner. This involves working closely with my crewmates, who are often Emergency Care Assistants (ECAs). Being a paramedic allows me to see snapshots of people’s lives, each one unique, which is a real privilege.
Where has your Paramedic career taken you so far?
I progressed into the role of NQP from starting my journey within SWAST as a call handler, before becoming an ECA and then, Apprentice Paramedic. My experience in the control room and as an ECA has fundamentally shaped how I perceive and manage the jobs and patients I attend. Since qualifying, I have taken part in several training opportunities, including assisting in a Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) course with experienced medics, both civilian and military. Additionally, I have been developing training materials related to my role as LGBT+ Lead for SWAST. I’m still new to the role, however, my long term plans are to increase my management skills and look into being able to provide critical care interventions.
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
To me, the difference we make isn’t necessarily about handling the big jobs. I find it incredible how much of a difference we can make to someone who has simply fallen and has nobody to help them up. Taking the time to talk to them and get to know them can profoundly change how they feel in that moment. I believe that is really important.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The best part of my job is seeing the look of relief on people’s faces when we arrive. It’s an absolute privilege to be immediately trusted and allowed into someone’s home when they need help the most. I love hearing about people’s lives and getting to know them, even if only for a short period. Some people have led fascinating lives, and it’s an honour to listen to their stories.
What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
It’s never too late to change your path. Being a paramedic is not all blood and guts, in fact, that makes up a very small part of what we do. If you are a kind person who can handle stressful and emotional scenarios safely and remain calm and professional, being a paramedic is a fantastic career (It’s also really fun driving on blue lights!).
Anything else you’d like to add?
I often find myself thinking, “Is this really my job?” when I’m driving through the countryside on a sunny day with my blue lights flashing, music playing, and having a good chat with my (crew)mate. It’s a surreal and rewarding experience, and one I feel privileged to be able to call my job.
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role?
I work as a Specialist Paramedic in Urgent and Emergency Care (SPEUC). We support crews in all areas of practice and help with patient care and call performance. SPEUC’s triage the call stack, liaise with other HCPs, attend Cat 1 calls, provide clinical oversight for CFRs and self-allocate to appropriate calls to avoid admissions. SPEUCs have enhanced skills including wound care, end of life care, enhanced assessment techniques, catheterisation, enhanced pain relief and administration of antibiotics.
Where has your Paramedic career taken you so far?
My career has taken me from a naive 19-year-old to an experienced clinician with a post graduate degree. I have been to many interesting places and met people in all levels of society. I have travelled in every means of transport and been to places only a few would ever see. The furthest I have travelled is working in the foothills of the Himalayas attending emergencies and training locals.
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
The difference we can have as a paramedic can range from making someone's day by taking the time to talk to them, to trying to save a life with resuscitation. As a paramedic you find that making a difference can be from the seemingly inconsequential to the substantial.
What's the best thing about your job? / What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
The best thing about being a paramedic is the variation of the job. No 2 days are exactly the same (although can be similar) and the people you meet make the job worth it.
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role?
Hello, my name is Hollie and I am a newly qualified paramedic with the South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust.
Where has your Paramedic career taken you so far?
I have always wanted to be a paramedic since I was in school but due to life circumstances, I was not able to go to university until later in life. I am now coming up to 30 and have been qualified a year, and would not have wished my journey to have happened any differently. My colleagues often call me "bright eyed and bushy tailed" due to my enthusiasm for this job and I completely agree. I am always studying and trying to better myself for this role and my patients.
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
The theme this year is "The difference we make" and I feel in this role we really do make a huge difference in so many different ways. Often when people think of this role, they think of the high-pressure jobs where we have to manage the time critical patient, but I think the real difference is made in our soft skills. The ability to hold a stranger's hand and comfort them when they are scared, make children laugh with terrible handmade glove balloons or make an elderly person some toast and a cup of tea. It these small details that really show our patients we care, and we are here to make a difference no matter how big or small.
What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
If you want to become a paramedic, do it! Maybe I'm biased but honestly, I can't think of a better job. Yes, there are ups and downs as with anything in life, but you get to meet the most amazing people and see some amazing places, places you can't even imagine. It’s a constant adventure!
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role?
I’m Ann-Marie and I’m a newly qualified paramedic, I started in May 2016 as an ECA and after 4 years on the road, just at the start of the pandemic trained via the UWE distance learning programme (one of the last cohorts sadly) I qualified as a paramedic in November 2022. I’m based in sunny Weymouth; Dorset and I'm known on station as the clumsy paramedic having fallen out the ambulance breaking my ankle having only just recovered from a work-related knee injury! I have a cup especially for this title! I organise Weymouth stations open day which we do annually, it's a great way to showcase the job we do and makes for a great day out!
Where has your Paramedic career taken you so far?
Over the course of life as a Newly Q ualified P aramedic I’ve encountered so many things but one thing that springs to mind is attending a patient whilst off duty walking around ringstead bay. A gentleman had fallen injuring his ankle who my partner happened to see before me, he said, don’t panic I think he’s sunbathing, wrong… I saw him laying on the ground as I walked over a hill and could see he was hurt, I ended up calling coastguard teams, mountain rescue and the helicopter alongside a crew to get him out to hospital, working closely with the control room. Knowing you made a difference is amazing and that feeling never tires, just goes to show a paramedic is never quite off duty!
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
The role of a paramedic is sometimes challenging, involves problem solving on the hop and working with some other amazing teams as mentioned above. Sometimes it can be sad and hard on you too, luckily support is all around especially with your work colleagues and family. It takes an understanding spouse and family as sometimes it feels like we are always at work and can often miss family events.
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.
What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
The best advice I can give to someone wanting to become a paramedic is follow your dreams, it took me a while to achieve it, but I never gave up, you have done whatever it takes. You need good communication skills, patience, a good sense of humour and most importantly a strong bladder!
I wouldn’t change my job for the world.
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role?
I currently work as Assistant Quality Lead for the operations side of the Patient Safety Team. This role includes investigating patient safety incidents and line managing some pretty marvellous people. I feel extremely lucky to work with such a diverse team who share the same goal of learning, improving patient safety and wider system improvement.
Where has your Paramedic career taken you so far?
I joined the Ambulance service 20 years ago in May 2004 as an Ambulance Care Assistant before moving on to be an EMT and Paramedic working on ambulances and Rapid Response Vehicles. I have covered many events such as Premier league football matches, Air Festivals as well as travelling across the country to meet with families in my current role.
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
I no longer work frontline on a full time basis, but despite this, I still get to promote change through providing data driven responses to patient safety incidents that I have investigated.
What’s the best thing about your job? / What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
It is that old cliché, but in all seriousness: The best thing about my job, is being able to make a difference to someone who is possibly experiencing one of the worst moments of their life.
Anything else you would like to add?
I left my frontline Paramedic role after becoming unwell due to covid in January 2021 but was able to transfer my skills to a different directorate within the Trust. This has given me a new purpose and reignited the fire within. If you’re thinking about a career as a Paramedic, stop thinking and start doing! Good luck and all the best.
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role?
I have worked for ambulance services in the UK and the Caribbean since 2002. I currently work as a Research Paramedic and Academic Support Lead whilst completing an NIHR funded PhD with the University of Oxford. All that training came together in spring 2024 when I successfully resuscitated my daughter’s hamster with hands only CPR!
Where has your Paramedic career taken you so far?
I have always loved working for the ambulance service, holding a number of roles including frontline lead paramedic and mentor, member of the project team that set up the UK’s first HART team, and Trust Lead for Clinical Supervision. After completing an NIHR funded Masters in Clinical Research, I joined SWASFT’s small but brilliant research team and led the TIME Take Home Naloxone feasibility trial. I also review proposals to support the research team in ethical decision-making about research activity within SWASFT. These experiences built my confidence and I successfully applied for funding (third time lucky) to complete a PhD supported by the SWASFT team. Following an NHSE AHP Clinical Fellowship, I work with the SWASFT mental health team and currently lead a number of projects including piloting simulated mental health placements for undergraduate paramedic students and exploring the feasibility and acceptability of referring 999 patients to a Recovery Navigator in the community to support mental health and wellbeing.
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
This resonates with me deeply. The pandemic shook my professional identity, as taking immunosuppression medication stripped me of my frontline role and forced me into shielding. I have struggled with the loss of ‘the road’ and being able to directly help patients. However, through education and learning more about the world around us, ‘the difference we make’ doesn’t have to just be about those frontline actions. The role of the paramedic is evolving and there are other ways that we can make a difference in people’s lives in those critical moments. Whether saving a life, providing comfort, or offering reassurance, our actions matter, which is why my PhD research focusses on employee wellbeing, as we know that our mental health and wellbeing influences the decisions we make and the care we provide.
What’s the best thing about your job? / What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
My colleagues and our patients! I am in awe of the kindness, tenacity, and dedication of those I work with, along with the strength and bravery of the patients I have served over the years. I have seen both the worst and the best of humanity and to work with courageous and innovative people from all aspects of the organistion is a wonderful experience and continues to inspire me as I take my next steps.
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role?
I am a Senior Research Fellow in Paramedic Science working between University of the West of England, Bristol, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Service. My role is really varied; I might be working up a research study, supporting the delivery of research, writing for dissemination, supervising interns, and postgraduate students, or working with patients and public to make sure that the research we do has our patients front and centre.
Where has your Paramedic career taken you so far?
I have been very fortunate to have been asked to deliver presentations internationally and nationally. Internationally my role has taken me to Auckland and Athens. Last week I was in Manchester at the launch of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Tech Research Centre in Emergency and Acute Care where I am co-lead for the Community Care Theme. I love working with lots of different people inside and outside of my profession, it pushes my boundaries and I learn a lot.
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
I love working in clinical research. Well conducted research improves patient outcomes and research active organisations have better patient outcomes and better staff retention. Even if I only make a small contribution to this, it is an important one.
What’s the best thing about your job? / What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
The best thing about my job is the opportunities to improve patient care through scientific means. Also, to take an idea from clinical practice and explore it and help others to do the same. I also love the people I get to meet and work alongside. I especially love my ambulance service colleagues; they are a unique and amazing bunch.
Anything else you would like to add?
I would encourage anyone to get involved in research, it makes such a difference.
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role?
I am the Vaccine Programme manager and medicines support officer within the medical directorate. During the autumn/winter I oversee the Trust vaccination programme; offering all staff, students, volunteers and agency staff the opportunity to have their seasonal flu and covid boosters within the Trust.
The other half of my job role involves working closely with the Chief Pharmacist and Medications Safety Officer with day to day management of medicines within the Trust. This includes PGD governance, drug audits, medicine queries, remote temperature monitoring.
Where has your Paramedic career taken you so far?
I worked in West Midlands Ambulance Service for 8 years then relocated to SWAST in 2010. I worked both on the rapid response vehicles and ambulances at Stroud station for the following 12 years. For personal reasons I needed a role away from frontline duties and managed to experience alternative duties within the Covid Swabbing Team/Patient Safety Team and Project Management team until securing the role of Vaccine Manager/Medicine support officer in August last year.
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
To me it means that you don’t have to be frontline to make a difference to patients. My job role means I can help protect staff, patients and family members against winter illnesses. I’m helping ensure that the Trust has the right medicines needed for patients at the right time and help understand how we use medicines and their impact within the Trust.
What’s the best thing about your job? / What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
The job of a frontline paramedic can be a very stressful one, but there is no other job like it. There is also life after being frontline too. The job has developed so much since I first started and the opportunities for paramedics now are so much greater.
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your current role?
I joined the ambulance service in Bristol in 2001 as a trainee Paramedic. I have spent over 20 years as an operational Paramedic, more recently in South Devon which is a beautiful place to live and a special place to work. My colleagues in this area are fantastic, they are so supportive of one another and all work with such dedication and kindness. I have recently moved to the Safeguarding department within the ambulance service as a Safeguarding Specialist. As registered professionals from all disciplines, Safeguarding Specialists work together to safeguard our patients, support our operational staff and fulfil our statutory obligations as an organisation.
Where has your Paramedic career taken you so far?
My Paramedic career has been hugely enabling and as the profession commands so much respect, we have a duty to uphold its ethos. Not only has it taken me into the trusted environment of people’s homes and lives, but it has also taken me to a number of other hospitals including a few trips to London and Wales and back in one shift!
It has also enabled me to work in a GP surgery, work alongside some inspirational clinicians and other professionals, train in theatres and PICU, attend post mortems, rescue someone who’d fallen into a grave (harder than it sounds), sit rather vulnerably in a little ambulance on a huge airport runway waiting for a patient to land, and take patients for a last trip and ice cream on route to a hospice.
I also have a vague recollection of screaming with my eyes closed whilst being winched from a beach into a helicopter but thanks to my fear of heights and flying, I have mostly blanked that memory out…
The theme for this year’s International Paramedics Day is ‘The difference we make’ – what does this mean to you?
I was only just having this conversation with my 16-year-old son yesterday who is finding his way in the world. I decided at a young age I wasn’t interested in making a huge amount of money but instead made a conscious decision to make a positive difference.
Every day I work as a Paramedic I can be sure that I will make a difference to someone and that is a huge privilege and so fulfilling. There are not many careers like ours where we can be sure that every day our work has a positive impact on the challenging world around us. I know that I have made a difference to some individuals lives and that makes being a Paramedic so special and rewarding.
What’s the best thing about your job? / What might you say to someone considering a career as a Paramedic?
The best part of being a Paramedic has always been the job satisfaction and the people we work with including some inspiring patients but also some incredible colleagues. I have often been blown away by the people who work in the service, by what we can achieve as a crew or as a team for our patients.
Being a Paramedic has been the challenge of my life, and whilst it can be hard, tiring and incredibly sad at times, there is nothing like the reward of delivering a new life into the world, attending a cardiac arrest and receiving a thank you letter months later from the person you saved who is now out running again.
Within my specialist role, I advocate for people who may no longer have a voice or are currently too vulnerable to speak up for themselves, and that is a huge honour but also a huge responsibility.
Being a Paramedic made me who I am today, it gave me confidence, huge amounts of compassion, high standards , the ability to literally save a life and the lifelong friendships I value so hugely. If I had my time again, I would always strive be a Paramedic.