The ambulance service in west Essex is urging people to train as student paramedics.

After successful recruitment drives across the rest of the region, the East Anglian Ambulance Service Trust is targeting the west of the county for people looking to change their to become paramedics.

Ambulance crews treat a wide range of patients, from heart attacks to helping elderly people who have fallen and other complex medical needs.

Karl Edwards, who is in charge of the 999 service in west Essex, said: “I joined the ambulance service in 1998 and have worked as a paramedic on helicopters, ambulances, rapid response cars and motorcycles.

“I love the job as much now as the first day I joined and every day is different. The ambulance service has been like a second family to me and offers a very challenging and rewarding career to anyone who wants to embark on the journey to becoming a paramedic for one of the best ambulance services in the UK.”

He added: “We are now looking to recruit around 50 more student paramedics across this area to help improve the service we give to patients and to further increase our ambulance cover. We have made huge strides in our service and performance over the last year and we want to continue to progress and recruiting more frontline paramedics will help us achieve this.”

Applicants need to be highly-motivated people with excellent communication and numeracy skills and need to be able to demonstrate an understanding and commitment to quality care of patients that is delivered with care, compassion, respect and dignity.

INFORMATION: For more, visit www.eastamb.nhs.uk/working-for-us/How-can-I-become-a-student-paramedic.htm or apply online at NHS Jobs.