Ambulance Service Looking for New Paramedics

Most of the news we cover on our website is directly related to HGVs, coaches and buses. However, from time to time we like to talk about other aspects of commercial driving, including ambulance driver training. That’s what we will discuss in this post by way of a news story from the BBC.

The January 24 story reported that the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) is now on a drive to recruit 400 student paramedics over the coming weeks. The idea is to train those who would eventually fill front-line vacancies within the service. The move is a direct response to mounting criticism of slow response times.

As part of their training, students will work side-by-side with already licensed paramedics in a ‘two-person per ambulance’ model. The students will also spend extensive time in the classroom as well. The EEAS hopes the new recruits will provide the staff they need to fill vacancies in the future. Until then however, there remains a significant shortage of qualified paramedics the service will have to deal with.

According to the BBC, the EEAS has an additional concern by way of funding. Because the service has not reached the goals set for it in some areas, the government has decided to withhold some funding. That certainly does not help an industry where finances are already spread thin. Hopefully, the new recruits will be in place soon enough to raise performance levels to standard.

Another Great Career

The BBC report didn’t mention anything specifically about ambulance drivers and the EEAS. That said, a career as either an ambulance driver or paramedic is a great choice. Both are careers that pay well, provide job security and allow workers to give back to the communities they love. Working for an ambulance service is a unique opportunity for the right individuals.

In many cases, new drivers will need to earn a C1 licence to legally operate an ambulance. However, that’s not always the case. It depends on the size and weight of the vehicles an ambulance service runs. Even so, ambulance driver training is always a good idea whether or not you need an upgraded licence.

At the HGV Training Centre, we include ambulance driver training in our list of services for PCV drivers. We put our students through classes specifically designed to give them the knowledge and skills necessary to safely operate on public roads. When a student graduates from one of our programmes, he or she is more than ready to find work as a commercial driver.

If you would like to learn more about our ambulance driver training, or any of the training courses we offer, don’t hesitate to call or contact us through our website. We have new classes forming all the time at more than 45 facilities around the country. We would be happy to work with you for you to earn your commercial driver licence. There is an exciting new career waiting for you just as soon as you finish your training.

Sources:

BBC News – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-25875477