#BlackLivesMatter (2020)

‘6 foot 9?’ Another guess going wide of the mark from our third conscious and breathing patient of the shift—a guess coming a few minutes after my sigh of relief and stand down of helimed as it had come through as a confirmed choking.

The life of a black paramedic in England is slightly difficult to contextualise. It is easy to say ‘my experience is my experience only’, but more often than not, I feel my experience is probably a carbon copy of that of other black staff.

According to Working Race Equality solutions (WRES) data, East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) has a black and ethnic minority (BME) workforce of 3%. Being literally the only person of colour at the interview stage had me prepared for what the paramedic pathway and working life would have been like if I was successful. It was never going to be a hindrance though. I knew I had what it takes to achieve paramedic status and would be doing it among like-minded people—ones who want to provide care, because that's the main point right? However, going forward from there is what can be worrying. Figures from the same WRES data would also tell you of the wide disparity between BME and white staff in leadership positions—but we'll get back to that.