Alex Easson - BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science

The BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science course was my first choice, as Portsmouth has a great reputation for health care courses. Being a city campus, you get a strong sense of not just being part of the University, but of Portsmouth itself.

The library facilities are great for the course and I have always been able to access the resources I needed. The library staff are really helpful in helping to show students how to get the most out of the resources available.

I've found the lecturing staff are very approachable and care about making sure their message is understood. The guest lecturers brought in to deliver training in specialist areas have been very enjoyable. It just seems to make good sense to learn from the people who specialise in those areas – learning maternity skills from a midwife, for example. Importantly to me, they all seem to genuinely care about my progression as a Student Paramedic.

Being on placement is a fantastic experience and my favourite aspect of the course. I was made to feel part of the ambulance crew and have been encouraged to be actively involved in patient care from the start. The supervision from Paramedics has adapted to suit my needs as my confidence and skill set has developed. Above all, it was a great feeling to gain experience of the job I’m training for from the beginning of the course.

I found going on non-ambulance placements has given me a good insight into how Paramedics fit in to the wider health care picture and has reinforced that a Paramedic is not limited to working on an ambulance.

Progressing through the course has definitely been a challenge, but a really enjoyable one. If I found it all easy then I probably wouldn’t have been pushing myself. It’s certainly a course that has required time, effort and dedication, but the experience of being a Student Paramedic hasn’t made that feel like work.