WEST Midlands Ambulance Service apprentices have been praised for their ‘outstanding’ performance during the pandemic.
Around 60 apprentices are learning their trade with the trust’s non-emergency patient transport service working on contracts including in Coventry, Warwickshire and Birmingham.
Assistant chief ambulance officer Michelle Brotherton said: “Our apprentices have really risen to the challenge during the outbreak. They form part of our transport crews and have been dealing with both covid 19 and non-covid patients during the pandemic, which has allowed us to provide the very highest standard of patient care.”
Apprentice, 17-year-old Dylan Bamber’s main concern is always the patients.
He said: “Coronavirus has made things more intense, but we’ve carried out exactly the same job as we did before.
“We have had to transfer patients who are suffering from covid 19, and this involves wearing personal protective equipment at all times. I’ve not found it frightening, because you sign up to the job knowing you’re facing potentially fatal diseases. To be honest, I’ve worried more about the patients.”
Many of the apprentices go on to train as paramedics or in the emergency operations centres taking 999 calls.
Michelle Brotherton added: “We are always on the lookout for new apprentices because we know that we get great staff who we are proud to help develop their skills which ultimately helps patients.”
Visit www.wmas.nhs.uk for more information.
