Life in the bus lane: a reflection of the year

Being a paramedic who works in central London, I certainly get to spend most of my time in the bus lane. Whether it be on my way to a patient or stuck in a traffic jam en route to hospital, it certainly gives me time to reflect on this past year and all the changes with it. I've now been with London Ambulance Service for 10 months and although I feel I plod from each day to the next, I am proud of what I have accomplished so far.

I can remember feeling so nervous when I started as an NQP, and although that feeling has eased, I am still getting used to that great sense of responsibility. I completed my first shift with an emergency ambulance crew member the other week and was called to a major trauma; suddenly I was the adult, and with no one watching over my shoulder, I let my training kick in. It's quite a sensation—that sink or swim moment—and with the assistance of my excellent crewmate, it went well, and I swam. Although I have this experience under my belt, there are still plenty of situations to experience (I am still yet to have a baby named after me for one instance).