Nicky Skinner - Paramedic - London Ambulance Service to the ACT Ambulance Service.
In this episode, Matt talks to Nicky Skinner, a Heart 2 Heart Walker who joined us on a short break from her role as a Paramedic with the ACT Ambulance Service.
Nicky talks all about what it is like to join as an Ambulance Paramedic, both here in Australia and with the London Ambulance Service where she started her career. As a 23 year old Paramedic, Nicky was a single unit responder in the rough streets of Romford in London's East, where stabbings were the favourite tool used by the gangs of the area and being surrounded by a group of men with no backup in an ambush-setup response call.
As you can imagine, as a newly qualified paramedic thrown into the deep end in East London, Nicky tells of the daily pressures learning her craft as the clinical lead responding to emergencies throughout the area. She also reflects on how poor management practices and organisational pressures can sometimes be more difficult to deal with than responding to traumatic scenes - and just how important positive, supportive organisational culture can be in the emergency services.
So enjoy this small insight into one of the Heart 2 Heart Walkers, as we mention, these humble people rarely tell their stories so enjoy this chat with another one of Australia's fantastic first responders!
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Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.
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