What did I learn from my first placement?

If I had to summarise, it would be that I now know much less about what is really involved in pre-hospital healthcare than I first thought.

There is such a complex and varied range of factors to consider when interacting with patients as a healthcare professional. I witnessed this first-hand while being closely attached to my mentor for several weeks during my placement.

I experienced periods of anger, frustration, joy, and curiosity as I moved from call to call. My mind would race as I sat in the back of the ambulance, with blue lights reflecting off shop windows, wondering what we would be facing next.

Moreover, about 80% of the jobs we attend are non-emergency and require complex thinking and problem-solving.

For this reason, I believe this placement has opened my eyes to what it really means to be a paramedic.