A SERIES of visits and special workshops from the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) has inspired three Basingstoke students to follow a career in the emergency services.

Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) public services student Bethan Morley is soon to start her career as an emergency call handler, whilst course member Stephanie Bone is now focused on building a career as an emergency care assistant.

Meanwhile, public services student Olivia Price has also recently been accepted onto BCoT’s Access to Science programme with aspirations of becoming a paramedic for SCAS.

The emergence of students looking to work in emergency healthcare is a result of BCoT’s growing relationship with SCAS.

Public Services students from BCoT were recently invited to attend a Young Ambulance Citizens Programme on Wednesday, 14 March, an event organised by SCAS Clinical Education Team.

Darren Best, senior education manager at SCAS, said “We are aiming to give the students an opportunity to be fully immersed into the various aspects of the role of a paramedic. The students are exposed to the same fully interactive and highly immersive training scenarios at our SCAS Enhanced Simulation Centre, which our front line crews undertake.

"They will be required to work as a team to deal with a simulated road traffic collision, scene management, managing a child with breathing difficulties and being involved in dispatching an ambulance with the demands of limited resources."

James Booty, BCoT course director for public services, said “Working with the South Central Ambulance Service has allowed our students to not only gain a good understanding of the demanding yet highly rewarding work carried out by the organisation, but after advising of our programme of study SCAS have managed to tailor the day to our learners needs to assist with their vocational studies. This opportunity will also support our students in making informed career decisions and we are extremely grateful to SCAS for allowing these valuable opportunities”.