Glasgow Caledonian University and Scottish Ambulance Service celebrate new era

Glasgow Caledonian University and the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) marked the closure of the SAS Academy with an event celebrating a 12-year collaboration which saw around 2,000 paramedics complete their diploma.

SAS and Glasgow Caledonian staff and students shared their stories of the past and plans for future joint-working at the closing event in School of Health and Life Sciences’ Govan Mbeki building today (June 9). The official closing date of the Academy is July 31.

SAS has been working in collaboration with Glasgow Caledonian since 2011, educating both ambulance technicians and paramedics to certificate level and diploma level respectively.

In 2018, the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) introduced a change to Standards of Education and Training for paramedics. This change meant that as of 2022, in order to register with the HCPC as a paramedic, the applicant would have to obtain a degree from an HCPC-approved programme.

Glasgow Caledonian was the first university in Scotland to launch a full-time HCPC-approved BSc Paramedic Science undergraduate degree in Scotland.

Pauline Howie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: “Since it was first established in 2011 as a collaboration between the Scottish Ambulance Service and Glasgow Caledonian University, the SAS Academy has been a first-class facility for learning, with dedicated lecturers and staff who always put students first.

“We’ve seen around 2,000 paramedics trained over the last 12 years, and our graduates have not only served patients in Scotland, but some are now working for health services in other parts of the world.

“Looking to the future, we’re exploring new accessible education routes, which will allow people to progress in their career paths within the Service.”

Andy Brady, SAS Programme lead DipHE Paramedic Practice, said: “It’s thanks to this very successful collaboration that around 2,000 paramedics are now providing emergency and non-emergency care to the people of Scotland.”

Glasgow Caledonian’s School of Health and Life Sciences (SHLS) Dean Professor Anita Simmers said: “Since 2011 the School of Health and Life Sciences have been proud to work in partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service, which has seen the transformation of the profession reflecting the growing importance of paramedics to Scottish healthcare.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Scottish Ambulance Service as the profession moves from strength to strength, expanding educational opportunities.”

Professor Helen Gallagher, SHLS Vice-Dean and former Head of Department for Psychology, Social Work and Allied Health Sciences, added: “This has been a highly successful partnership enabling hundreds of Scottish Ambulance Service employees to upskill and progress in their careers.

“This collaboration also helped forge the development of our Masters in Advanced Paramedic Practice, which continues to develop the workforce to meet the diverse and unique health challenges of Scotland’s remote and rural as well as urban communities.

“We are excited by the opportunities to continue our relationship with the service to widen access and develop new ‘earn as you learn’ pathways towards rewarding paramedic careers.”

Photo left to right - SHLS Vice-Dean Professor Helen Gallagher, SAS Academy Programme Lead Trish Gallagher, SAS Head of Education (West) Vicky Burnham and SHLS Dean Professor Anita Simmers at the celebration event.