'It's a scandal' - lack of jobs for new paramedics

ONLY 20 of the 67 paramedic graduates in Wales, funded in part by the Welsh Government, have been offered jobs by the Welsh Ambulance Service, despite it requesting the numbers trained.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK

One of the paramedic degree graduates left jobless after four years study in Wales, despite the Welsh Government paying for training requested by the Welsh Ambulance Service, says he is “gutted”.

The graduate, who did not want to be identified, said family commitments means he cannot take his skills to England as some of his peers also left without jobs are doing.

The WAS (Welsh Ambulance Service) confirmed it had not been able to give all candidates successful at interview a job, but said it is working to resolve that.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles has written to Jane Dodds MS, Liberal Democrat leader in Wales, who raised the matter, saying: “I recognise the distress this situation is causing graduates who expect to transition smoothly into employment.”

Of the 67 paramedic graduates in Wales this year, only 20 will be hired by the WAS.

This is despite the service requesting 87 paramedics to be trained and paid for through Welsh Government funding. The figures were confirmed in the letter from Mr Miles.

Mr Miles added that the Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), the statutory education body for the NHS in Wales, has confirmed that 67 students are due to graduate this academic year - 61 from Swansea University and six from Wrexham University. WAS has 20 roles available.