|
Health and Medicine
Ambulance Services
‘I had a ninety mile ride to make, being wet and cold I contracted a severe illness and was sent back in General Crooks ambulance………….. ‘. (Calamity Jane, American frontierswoman, 1852-1903)
The Scottish Ambulance Service runs:
- a non-emergency service, which takes elderly or infirm patients to and from hospital appointments
- an accident and emergency service which deals with 999 calls and emergency calls from doctors
- an air wing which provides emergency transport in remote areas.
In the year 2008-2009 ambulances operated 1,567,499 non-emergency patient journeys and responded to 599,052 emergency calls. The air ambulance carried out 3,797 air missions. The Service employs 4,161 staff, of which 410 are in management and administration. (Source: Scottish Ambulance Service Annual Report 08/09)
If you want to work in this sector you would probably start as a non-emergency ambulance care assistant and move on to become an ambulance technician, with more responsibility for emergencies. You could then take further specialised training to become a paramedic.
Ambulance staff use high-tech lifesaving and resuscitation equipment. They must keep up to date with new developments.
To do these jobs you need to be patient and understanding, reliable, responsible and able to get on with all sorts of people. You must be able to cope with unpleasant sights. You must remain calm and act quickly when dealing with emergencies.
To get into the Service you normally need 3 Standard grades in English, Maths and a science subject.
|