City university serves up first paramedic degree
A GLASGOW university has launched the country’s first ever paramedic degree course amid a push to overhaul how ambulance staff are trained.
Glasgow Caledonian University has recruited 50 students onto the first year of its new BSc course in paramedic science, with applications for the next intake in 2018/19 already exceeding the number of places available.
Sam Paterson, the programme leader, said: “There’s definitely a demand for it, and looking at the amount of applications and the contact that we had on open days we do expect it to be a highly competitive course to come onto. There’s an awful l ot of interest.”
The three-year course is the first full-time undergraduate degree of its kind in Scotland and puts paramedic training on a similar footing to other healthcare professions, such as nursing and physiotherapy, which require all new entrants to be degree qualified.
Ms Paterson: “We are going through a very similar journey to those in other healthcare professions – probably most recently those in nursing and physiotherapy, and even occupational therapy.
“All of these health services have gone from a very vocational model of training and education through into higher education.
“And we’re kind of in the middle of that journey at the moment. With this course opening up, it kind of helps to ‘future-proof’ some of the education and training available within Scotland.
“This [degree] is open to anyone who meets our entry cri- teria. They can come and do a three year degree and if they’re successful they will come out and be able to register as a paramedic and ultimately it’s up to them where they continue to work, whether that’s with the Scottish Ambulance Service or another UK service.”
Michele Durham, East Kilbride, 34, care assistant in a care home with two children. “I nursed my own grandparents for so long and remember the paramedics coming in and being amazed by them. In the care homes, I’ve worked alongside nurses and paramedics, and I wanted to step up as I knew there was more that I could offer. When I saw this come up, I would have been stupid not to apply. It’s been a challenge but despite the challenges, which come with work, life, children and studies, I know it will be worth it. ”
School leaver, Greg MacLeod, Stonehaven, 18, from Mackie Academy, said: “Having been with the Red Cross for a number of years, I wanted to move into full-time work to treat people and provide social care in a varied role. That’s what makes this is so exciting. There is never a dull day as there is always something to think about as no case is black or white.”