This year’s theme is ‘what paramedics do’ and is designed to explore the breadth and depth of work carried out by paramedics. The profession is a relatively young one, but we know it is growing rapidly and within Team NWAS we have paramedics operating at all levels with many different roles.

Each day, we’re bringing you stories and snippets about our paramedics from different perspectives, and we hope by the time IPD comes, you will be able to answer the title question.

We are kickstarting celebrations by sharing with you some special news about a new cohort of 12 international paramedics we have recruited from Nigeria and Australia.

They have joined our team as newly qualified paramedics (NQPs) after applying directly to an external job advert via NHS Jobs. We have supported them through the process after receiving funding from NHS England directly to help with our own international recruitment package.

Our new NQPs will be situated in stations across Lancashire and Greater Manchester and will follow the same route as all NQPs in which they will work a consolidation period of two years and if successful after the two years, will become qualified paramedics.

Programme Manager for International Recruitment Richard Freel says: “Our new recruits have completed their training inductions and are settling in well and speaking to them individually, they can’t wait to get stuck in and help the community that we serve!”

“The North West has so much to offer and for those making the move, the job here is like no other. Not only is the North West one of the most vibrant places to live in, it is also one of the most challenging and varied environments you can work in as a clinician. We are committed to providing services that embrace diversity, and which promote equality of opportunity and we welcome our latest recruits to our green family.”

We will be introducing two members of the cohort a little later in the week when they will be sharing their own experiences of integrating into the UK as a paramedic within Team NWAS. Tune into our social media accounts from today until Friday 8 July to hear more from paramedics across the North West.

*IPD was launched by the College of Paramedics last year and takes place on 8 July marking the anniversary of the birth of Dominique-Jean Larrey, the man often referred to as the ‘father of modern-day ambulance services.’