Students urged to consider a bright and busy future at London Ambulance Service on A Level results day

As thousands of students open their results today (Thursday), London Ambulance Service is reminding students of the wealth of career and training opportunities at the country’s busiest ambulance service.

While a number of universities offer degrees in paramedic science, there are other routes into this rapidly evolving profession where applicants are paid to learn on the job while training to become a paramedic. And it’s not just a career in paramedicine that’s on offer – London Ambulance Service has opportunities in call handling, education, support services, mechanics, and more.

Chief Paramedic and Quality Officer Pauline Cranmer said:

“I know that A-Level results day can be a wonderful or challenging day for many depending on their results. London Ambulance Service aims to be a welcoming and embracing workplace for all who are committed to having a fulfilling and amazing career. I would urge anyone thinking about their next steps – whatever their results today – to have a look at the career opportunities we have.

“When I finished school, I really felt that I was at a crossroads and I wasn’t sure which way to turn. I wanted to do something meaningful, but knew that I didn’t want to spend all of my working life in an office. When my in-laws showed me an advert for the London Ambulance Service, I thought I would give it a go. I started 30 years ago as a Technician, and very quickly knew it was the right call. I then qualified as a paramedic, and since then my career has been really varied, with lots of different opportunities and some amazing friends and colleagues made along the way.

“If you want to go from a paramedic in an ambulance to running the control room, and you put in the work – you can. I did,” she added

After 30 years in the service, Pauline was recently appointed as the first female Chief Paramedic in the country. Speaking about results day, she added:

“Whether you are receiving your exam results today –  and perhaps they were not what you expected – or you are considering a change of career, London Ambulance Service offers a range of exciting roles where you will be truly welcome with open arms.

“I’m really proud of my work and time in the Service and I know many others can find a home and a fantastic career here too if they are willing to work hard and develop their skills, we will support you to get to become a paramedic.”

For those who decide against university, you can apply to become an Assistant Ambulance Practitioner with a starting salary of £29,460. Upon successful completion of AAP training, you will be eligible to apply for the Trainee Emergency Medical Technician (TEMT) role. After you have completed the training and become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), you are eligible to apply for a two year Paramedic Degree Apprenticeship to become a newly Qualified Paramedic. London Ambulance Service funds all training.

One person who remembers disappointment when she received her A level results was Trainee Emergency Medical Technician Mary Janeway. She “completely failed” her exams with ‘ungraded’ results. But thankfully it has never stopped her in the dreams she had for her career. She said:

“I didn’t get any grades. I remember checking my Ucas to see I didn’t get into university and feeling absolutely gutted as a result. All my friends did well and got into their universities but I didn’t and that was absolutely devastating. I was honestly beside myself with disappointment.

“Thankfully I saw the AAP role a month after and started it in December. So it was all quite quick really and I’ve never looked back. I absolutely love what I do now. And being honest with myself, I think I would have struggled at university. I’m much better-suited to this type of role where I can learn on the job, from my peers and other colleagues. I just thrive in this environment.”

One of the things Mary enjoys most about her job is the people she gets to meet, patients she treats and experiences she has acquired. She said:

“I’m so lucky in my job, I get to work with some truly amazing people. My colleagues absolutely make it for me. My crewmate in particular is just fantastic. I’m also really well supported by my management – I can’t fault them.

“I also love the patient contact and helping people. I think the favourite part of my job each day is dealing with the unexpected – in this job, you can go to anything and everything. No day is the same. I could literally meet anyone, in any state and in any place.

“For me, the anticipation of waiting to see what is next is probably one of the most exciting parts and one of the aspects I love the most about my role.”

Another colleague who had to rethink their career path after getting their results was newly-qualified paramedic Daleel Madarbukus. Daleel did not have an easy path to the job fulfilment he has now. When he received his A-Level results 10 years ago, they did not turn out as he expected so he had to readjust his plans and gained entry to a different university course through clearing.

After six years as an osteopath, he took on the two-year MSC postgraduate course to become a paramedic.

He joined LAS in January and has delighted to discover the real difference he can make in someone’s life immediately.

Seven months into his career at LAS, Daleel is amazed by some of the incredible feats he has undertaken – struck by the massive impact he can have with seemingly small actions.

For instance, he recalled a life-saving situation where he attended to a woman who was found unresponsive in the street and after finding out her blood sugar was low and administering glucose, she was alert and conscious in moments.

He said:

“She was completely back to her normal self so quickly. It’s amazing to see those kinds of examples where you can take someone from a pretty scary state, unresponsive and potentially close to a worsening or dangerous state, and make her awake and alert again. It just feels like you have made a real difference.”

For more information about working for London Ambulance Service visit our website: Career Opportunities – London Ambulance Service NHS Trust