Former paramedics told 'come back to the NHS family' as West Midlands Ambulance Service boosts ranks to fight covid

West Midlands Ambulance Service is calling on recently retired paramedics, or those who switched to the private sector, to re-join the NHS.

A spokesperson said the presently higher-than-ever rates of COVID-19 has prompted the service enact additional measures to ensure they can get to those most in need of help quickly and save as many lives as possible.

The Trust has been able to recruit hundreds of additional staff in both its control rooms and its ambulances using funding provided by NHS England in the summer - but they want to boost their ranks even more.

Trust Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “We are once again, looking for any staff who retired within the last two years or are working in the private sector for the likes of events medical companies who would like to come back into the NHS family to get in touch.

“We are particularly looking for people who worked on an ambulance or in one of our control rooms to contact us. We have already had former members of staff get in touch who went on a career break offering to come back, which we welcome.

“Over the last couple of years, we know that several staff have retired from our service after giving many years of outstanding care to the public.

“We would like those colleagues to consider returning to WMAS so that we can increase the quality and amount of care that we can provide the public in these challenging times.”

Paramedic Rich Jones was one of those who answered a similar call in March 2020.

He said: “I saw the situation that the country faced then and with Omicron as it is, we all need to do our part to help the country. When I came back, I realised how much I had missed it. If you’ve ever worked for the ambulance service, you know how much your work means to patients.

“Coming back in this way means you can fit the shifts in around your ‘new’ life. I do it part time because it fits around my other roles. In fact, it works so well that I’ve stayed working part time ever since and would urge others who are in a similar position to give it a go too.”

Mr Marsh added: “Across our country, we see the incredible efforts that so many people are going to, to help others, such as the ‘army’ of people vaccinating and ‘boosting’ Britain. There is no question that getting vaccinated and your booster is the best way we can tackle the Omicron variant.

“For those who have retired, I know how much the time you spent with us meant to you; many of you have told me that when we have spoken. I wouldn’t ask you to re-join if I didn’t think it was the right thing for the public of the West Midlands and our patients.”

Those interested in re-joining the service are asked to email recruitment manager Louise Jones at [email protected] in the first instance, letting her know your previous role.