Paramedic

Established in 1994 the Isle of Man Ambulance and Paramedic Service as it is known today grew from the merging of two separate services that were run by the Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital and the old Noble's Hospital.

The service provides Pre-Hospital Care for the population of the Isle of Man 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

There are three main ambulance stations located in Douglas, Port Erin and Ramsey as well as several other stand-by points which are utilised throughout the day and night around the Island.

The Ambulance and Paramedic Service Headquarters are located on the Noble's Hospital site, Douglas.

The Isle of Man Service currently employs:

• 19 Paramedics
• 4 Officers (Paramedics)
• 18 Emergency Medical Technicians
• 1 Secretary

Becoming a Paramedic

Previously to become a paramedic you would join an ambulance service directly providing you had the necessary qualifications, then train as an Emergency Medical Technician ('EMT'). Following success in this role you would eventually take on further training and skills and become a Paramedic.

Things are changing with this route of learning and in the future it will be necessary to obtain a university degree in Paramedic Sciences to become a Paramedic.

The course can take up to three years to complete and is usually conducted with a partner ambulance service or trust.

Skills do you need to be a Paramedic

First and foremost the desire to want to help people is a good place to start. You need to be a good communicator and be able to demonstrate good people skills.

Working for the ambulance service is not all blue lights and sirens as is often portrayed on TV. Like any other job there are some moments of action but there is also quite a lot of routine work. You need to be able to relate to people in all walks of life and at all levels, the ability to empathise with people is essential.

At the moment, our driving courses are three weeks long and it’s an advanced driving course. You will need to ensure your license includes category C1 which is not automatic if you passed your test after 2000.

It’s based on the police ‘Road Craft System' so it is the same as the police use for their response drivers. It is a very intensive course which all students seem to enjoy. It is a different way of driving that is safe but progressive which is why students tend to enjoy it.

Qualifications

• One A-Level with grade C and above, Science subject preferred
• Plus GCSE (grades A-C) in a minimum of five subjects including English and Mathematics.

Or BTEC National Award/Certificate/ Diploma in a science or healthcare related area with suitable grades.

It is important to note that simply meeting the criteria does not mean you will be offered a place on the course of your choice. These criteria are the requirements for the eligibility to begin the application process.

The application process will involve interviews and various assessments at the University and Ambulance Service. You will need to pass each of these assessments and interviews before an offer of a place is made to you.

You must be:

• aged over 18 years
• physically fit with a capacity and desire to work hard in a demanding and dynamic environment
• able and prepared to undertake shift work, working when others are not, such as at Christmas, Easter and during the night
• able to have access to a personal computer with Internet access in order to complete the e-learning part of the course

What the Ambulance service can offer you

The Ambulance Service offers an exciting, rewarding and challenging career that delivers an immense amount of satisfaction and sense of achievement knowing that you have made a difference to someone else’s life.

Paramedics can often go on to further train and become Emergency Care Practitioners in some services, which is an advancement of the knowledge they have already gained from working as a Paramedic for some years. You may also progress into management areas of an ambulance service and become involved in training and development or the operational side of a service.

What can you expect to be paid?

Salaries will depend very much on the Trust or Service you will work for. Due to recent changes with the pay structures within the NHS a Paramedic salary is now very competitive with other choices of career. There are also different levels of unsociable hours payments which can be made depending on how many hours of your working week fall at night time, on a weekend or bank holiday.

You will also be provided with the necessary service uniform and personal protective clothing including foot ware.

Contacts

For further information you can contact:

Careers Centre

careers@gov.im

Ambulance Headquarters

Russell Thornhill (CAO) Telephone: +44 1624 642710
Raymond Beattie (ACAO) Telephone: +44 1624 642104
Steve Crowe (CM) Telephone: +44 1624 642214

Universities

By going to the UCAS website and following the links available you can search for a course and university that is right for you.

Why not start thinking now about how what you do with your life can make a difference to many peoples lives?