Over 200 paramedic apprentices have graduated from the University of Cumbria.
The students who were part of the ‘trailblazing’ apprenticeship scheme descended upon Carlisle on Wednesday for their graduation.
The BSc Hons Paramedic Science Apprenticeship Degree aims to boosts England’s paramedic workforce by up-skilling front line ambulance staff, such as, emergency medical technicians, to fully qualified paramedics in two years.
It was created by the University of Cumbria two years ago in a bid to address significant ongoing workforce shortages in the profession.
Organisations the students apprenticed for include England including as North West Ambulance Service, East of England Ambulance Trust, South East and Central Ambulance Service, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, London Ambulance Service, South East Coast Ambulance Service and the Isle of Wight Ambulance Trust.
Of those graduating, 74 per cent achieved an upper-class degree and 32 per cent of those received a first-class degree.
Four apprentices were also awarded prizes as part of proceedings for high achievements over the course of their studies.
These include Lee Knowles from LAS, who was awarded ‘Most Inspiring Student,’ for always helping other students and Daniel Chester from NWAS who received the ‘Innovation in Paramedic in Medicine Prize,’ for his dissertation that received a first-class mark.
It also included Lee Sweetlove from EEAST was named ‘Apprentice of the Year,’ for his exemplary attitude, and for being a great paramedic role model and future leader and Lucille Starkey from SCAS was made ‘Scholar of the Year’ for achieving consistently high grades.
The apprenticeship scheme takes two years to complete, as opposed to three years via the traditional undergraduate route, and lets apprentices work on the front line, responding to 999 calls, as they train.
Lucille said: “I could have done one of the other university degrees, but I chose to wait for the apprenticeship because of the ability to mix my full-time work, receiving a wage, and studying alongside to transition from associate ambulance practitioner to a fully-fledged paramedic.
“It was the right balance for me, that allowed me to get the full degree, the BSc, which I’m really proud to have, and helped me to consolidate my existing skills from my role while moving forward.”
The apprenticeship route also aims to opens up a paramedic career to more people who do not have a grounding in higher education, or who have families to support, as they earn while they learn.
Lee, who is 50, was a former driving instructor but decided to join the ambulance service after volunteering for a charity in Lincolnshire that responded to 999 calls in the community.
He started as an emergency medicine technician before proceeding with the paramedic apprenticeship.
He said: “A quarter of the way through the course, I was diagnosed as dyslexic, the tutors picked it up and I got extra help and time to complete assignments. The course was a hard slog, but it’s been very worthwhile, and I’m very proud.”
Seven of 11 English ambulance trusts have joined the apprenticeship programme, which currently delivers over 600 trained paramedics for the NHS workforce annually.
According to recently published NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, the NHS will need to increase the numbers of paramedics by 50 per cent in nine years.
Tom Davidson, director for the Centre for Excellence for Paramedic Practice, at University of Cumbria, is the innovator behind the university’s approach to paramedic education.
He said: “It is clear in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan that paramedics are integral to the success of the plan and the future of the NHS. Paramedics are specifically mentioned 18 times in the document, more than any other allied health profession.
“We are proud that graduates from our paramedic apprenticeship, delivered in partnership with seven English ambulance trusts, will directly boost the NHS workforce and contribute towards the ambitious targets set out in plan.”
