"I love making a difference"
Anna, who lives in the Blackdown Hills, on the Devon-Somerset border said: “It was a big learning curve when I joined Devon Doctors Group, now part of HUC, as a HVP, after more than a decade as an emergency paramedic for South Central Ambulance Service in Berkshire. However, the organisation gave me the opportunity to become an ACP and enhance my skills in urgent care.
“Looking back all the hard work has definitely been worthwhile because I’m independent, although, obviously, still able to seek support when I require it from doctors and other senior AHPs. Certainly, it’s very enjoyable.
“My role as a HVP within Somerset IUC has reignited my love for medicine and for patients. I relish the feeling of making a difference and being involved in the full episode of care. It provides great satisfaction – I’m even trying to persuade my husband, who’s a frontline response paramedic in the ambulance service, to do the apprenticeship pathway.”
Having been the first trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) apprentice at what was then Devon Doctors Group, Anna has recently gained her MSc in Advanced Practice, while Mike, who formerly worked as a paramedic for South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust, has also been studying to enhance his qualifications.
After completing his ACP apprenticeship, Senior ACP Mike, who joined the team back in 2019, embarked on a Master’s degree, which he will complete in the Spring, and is looking forward to being fully accredited by the end of next year.
“At that stage, I won’t really be able to go any higher without becoming a doctor,” reflects Mike, who splits his time between urgent care, and primary care at Creech Medical Centre in Taunton.
Mike acknowledges the pressures the health system is under can, on occasion, make his job a challenge. However, he says he enjoys the variety of the work, which can see him meeting patients in a COVID clinic one day and visiting them in their homes the next.
“I like the unpredictability of urgent care,” says Mike. You’re never sure what you’re going to be faced with on any particular shift. And, what’s more, we have a really good team – OAs, drivers, nurse practitioners, we all help each other.
“I don’t pretend to know everything and nor does anyone else, but it’s quite nice to get a call sometimes just asking for a bit of advice.”
Certainly, Mike and Anna are huge assets to our organisation and on Allied Health Professions Day we would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to them and all their AHP colleagues!
