Emergency Services Day: 'Working for West Midlands Ambulance Service is incredibly enjoyable' says paramedic of 50 years

So far giving an amazing 50 years of service, Ray Lloyd, from Birmingham, was among the UK's first ever paramedics when the service was modernised, and since then has cared for thousands of patients in their most critical moments through changes in society and the administration of the organisation which has witnesses many changes over the decades.

In addition, he has spent 30 years serving in two important support roles for his colleagues as union representative, a member of the trust’s Staff Advice and Liaison Service which is a 24/7 confidential hotline that is manned by volunteers to support colleagues with any issues they may be facing.

 Ray explains that his long career began in April 1975 as a millar, equivalent to a technician role today. He was based at a site in Henrietta Street in Birmingham for the then West Midlands Metropolitan Ambulance Service.

From there he went on to become one of the very  first paramedics in the country and helped establish and launch some key sections of the modern ambulance world, including the Clinical Team Mentors and Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART).

Ray said: “There’s been a lot of change since when I started, no doubt about that, but it has been incredibly enjoyable. It’s a job for life, and it has given me a good life.

“I enjoy meeting people, I’m not the sort of person who would like to work in an office or a factory because I like to get out and about and do and see different things, so the career has suited me well.

 “It’s also why I’ve been happy to take on the other roles to help support colleagues, because I’m a people person and I like to be able to offer support to others, whether that is patients or staff.”

Whilst always happy to help a fellow human, Ray describes being faced with more than 30 bulls who had got free from an overturned lorry on the motorway as one of the more interesting moments of his career, but it is a career he said he would highly recommend.

“To anyone thinking of becoming a paramedic or joining the ambulance service I would say absolutely go for it, especially if you enjoy meeting people, it’s a really good career - I’ve got no plans of calling it a day just yet.

"As long as I can remain physically fit, I’m happy to carry on and keep helping people for as long as I can.”

Emergency Services Day, also known as 999 Day, is held on September 9 in the UK to celebrate everyday heroes past and present, to promote the work of the emergency services, explain how to use them responsibly, educate the public about basic lifesaving skills, and promote the many career and volunteering opportunities across all the services. These include special constables, retained firefighters, NHS community responders, St John Ambulance, RNLI, Search and Rescue and Coastguard volunteers.