From paramedics dealing with some of the most serious injuries you could imagine, to nurses caring for patients in our local hospitals and community, Oxford Brookes students and alumni are utilising their practical and holistic skills to provide vital frontline health and social care.
What drives them? The answer is simple: giving something back to our community and helping people at what is often their most vulnerable time.
Please note – this article was published before the current Covid-19 pandemic
A paramedic who also teaches…
Siobhan Hall ’16 studied for a Paramedic Emergency Care foundation degree and is currently working for South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS)
“I guess you could say that I’m a people person and just love to help them. Communication is 90% of the job and every day is different and you really do get to meet some amazing people.”
Siobhan goes on to explain that; “Whilst studying we worked alongside three or four experienced paramedics who brilliantly guided me through situations and helped me become calm and professional even when faced with life-threatening situations. It’s a real collaboration between Oxford Brookes and SCAS and the majority of my cohort remained working with SCAS with some being my colleagues today.”
It’s a great job. I certainly feel like I give something back to the community
During her time at Oxford Brookes, Siobhan decided that she wanted to have an impact on other students. She explains: “When I was studying I became really interested in the skills side and thought I’d love to do that, so towards the end of the course I started assisting lecturers and am now an Associate Lecturer on the Paramedic Science BSc. I am also an instructor for Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) which teaches how to manage a trauma patient in various situations.”
Siobhan now also enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with current students on their placements. She said; “Now I have students shadowing me and I really enjoy it and like to think that the fact that I’ve been through the Brookes system really helps to support them. It’s a great job. I certainly feel like I give something back to the community and have definitely got a job for life.”
Words: Becky Mansfield
Photograph: Cyrus Mower
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