Having worked in healthcare for over 5 years I believe the skills, experiences and knowledge I have gained can be applied for being a paramedic in the modern day ambulance service. My mother is a nurse and my father a doctor and they have shown me how rewarding working with patients in the NHS can be.

When I was 19 years old I was offered a position at the Hyperbaric Unit at Murrayfield Hospital as a trainee medical technician. The job involved working with patients on a daily basis in a recompression chamber, having never worked in health care before I was unsure about the job, however after a few weeks I soon learnt what it means to be a member of a healthcare team. I began to enjoy working with patients everyday, getting to know them and helping them through their treatments. I knew then healthcare was a career that I would pursue for the rest of my life. To me making a positive lasting impression on the person that I’m caring for is my ultimate goal. Seeing them smile and be happy within themselves when they leave is the best part of my job.

Once I had completed my training as a medical technician I was given the opportunity to join the emergency team at the Hyperbaric Unit. This involved covering the 24 hour on-call for diving and carbon monoxide poisoning emergencies. I was also part of the medical aid team responding for North West Ambulance Service. This was the first time I saw the role of the paramedic in the real world. As part of the medical aid team we responded to life threatening calls such as cardiac arrests and road traffic accidents. During most weekends, I would respond with a doctor to non-life threatening calls, this allowed me to become more involved with patients in the field. These experiences showed me that a paramedic is not just about saving lives it’s also about compassion and caring for others.

I have recently been offered a position as a Healthcare Assistant at the Royal Liverpool Hospital working in surgery, theatres and anaesthetics. I am due to start this job in October, it is my hope that working as healthcare assistant will further my skills and knowledge and help me to develop into a better healthcare professional.

I believe that I have the skills required to become a paramedic working in pre-hospital care. I am mentally strong as a person who can think decisive, quickly and be able to provide professional assistance to patients in any scenario. I have developed excellent interpersonal skills that will allow me to reassure people whilst dealing with difficult circumstances. I possess a serious interest in the care and well-being of patients.

In July 2012 I completed an Access to Health course. The course gave me a better knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology, Sociology, Psychology, Ethics and the workings of the NHS. I regularly read the related medical journals to research more about the paramedic profession. These include the Journal of Paramedic Practice, The Bradley Report and other related journals.

I have been an active member of St John ambulance for over a year. I chose to join to further my experiences of working with the public in a medical role. I provided medical cover for events such as football matches and also for my local remote control flying club which I have been a member of since 1999. St John ambulance has given me more experience working with the public and a better understanding of providing medical care in the field.