An emergency medical technician from Wigan is taking control of @TeamNWAS; an Instagram account run entirely by different faces from the frontline of North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Tom Wilkes undertaking the Associate Ambulance Practitioner programme – a new route into the emergency ambulance service. He joined NWAS at just 18 years old on the patient transport service before undertaking a development opportunity to become and emergency medical technician.

Talking about what people will see him share on the @TeamNWAS account, Tom said: “My week can be varied depending on the type of incidents I attend. As I am also undergoing the Associate Ambulance Practitioner training, I have to work through a portfolio to evidence both clinical knowledge and skills; with me being very new to 999 work every day involves some form of learning.

“I have always wanted to be a paramedic but I did not feel that the university route was for me. When the opportunity arose to become an EMT, I jumped at it with both hands and started my training last July.

“Most of my time is spent developing professionally as well as looking for ways to further my knowledge and clinical understanding.

“Whilst on training I created a little A6 pocket guide for my course mates and have shared this with other colleagues around the trust; this gave me the idea to create a website/blog to help others on the AAP programme.

“I am also a youth leader/volunteer manager for two separate youth organisations: St John Ambulance and Police Cadets.

“To help me unwind, I enjoy spending time out with friends either going for walks in the countryside or spending time to catch up over a coffee or cocktails.”

@TeamNWAS is the only UK ambulance service Instagram account run entirely by the workforce. Each week somebody different takes control of the account, giving followers a behind the scenes peek into what life as an ambulance service worker is all about.

NWAS employs almost 6,000 staff in over 300 different roles across the region. From paramedics, dispatchers and ambulance care assistants to 111 health advisors and urgent care practitioners – everyone contributes in one way or another to saving lives every single day and this is what the service hopes to share with the public.

Follow @TeamNWAS on Instagram to see Tom’s week in pictures starting on 26 February.

Find out more about Tom:

Twitter: @think_brew

Instagram: @tom_wilkessWebsite: www.techniciantips.co.uk