I welcomed in 2025 alongside my colleagues in the ambulance service, the accident and emergency (A+E) department and my patient. I had never worked a new year's eve shift before and to be honest, I was a bit nervous as I had heard horror stories of how crazy it could be. However, it was an enjoyable shift. I brought the ‘nosecco’, my crewmate brought the decorations and we toasted to the new year – even if it was 45 minutes after midnight! That's the reality of working in the ambulance service.
The new year often sees an increase in respiratory-type illnesses and unfortunately, I began 2025 with the flu. This meant that I had to take absence for the first time in my career which, initially, was quite daunting in terms of the absence process and I felt a bit guilty for not being able to work. Reflecting on this, I did the right thing. I would not want to pass it to patients, especially when I attend vulnerable patients, like the elderly and those who are immunocompromised – not to mention, how could I expect to look after patients when I was struggling to look after myself?
You have heard of new year resolutions, like starting the gym or sticking to a new diet – but have you heard of new year reflections? The start of a new year is the perfect time to look back on the year we've left behind, allowing us to appreciate the good and learn from the bad. After all, reflection is a key fundamental of being a paramedic as it allows us to develop. It's much easier to criticise ourselves, but it's important to give credit where credit is due. In 2024, I graduated university, started my job as a paramedic and became a regular columnist for the Journal of Paramedic Practice, which has been extremely rewarding as it helps to shed light on the feelings of NQPs across the UK, not just mine. From this, I have became more confident and resilient as a clinician – both attributes I want to bring with me into the year ahead.
Personally, I'm not big on the whole ‘new year new me’ or new year resolutions. I just try to continue the way I am or add little changes. For me, I want to continue developing myself as a paramedic. I'm now 10 months into my NQP journey and I have made progress in my decision-making and overall attitude as a paramedic. I want to continue this. Soon, I will be offered the chance to fast-track my NQP, which means that I will become a band 6 paramedic ahead of the 24 months. While this sounds like a nice idea (financially), I want to use the next few months to properly reflect on this before I come to a decision and get on top of my portfolio as I feel I have been neglecting this recently.
Unfortunately, for myself and most NQPs across the UK, prolonged waiting times outside A+E as a result of winter pressures can prohibit development (an issue I have previously written about in this column). I would argue that the effects of winter pressures are an all-year-round thing, but it is noticeably worse at this time of the year. I will continue to work on my mindset around this and try to be as positive as I can be, for myself, colleagues and patients. Looking on the bright side, the time spent waiting does provide a good opportunity to crack on with my portfolio work. Oh, and my last new year resolution is to avoid the flu!