Paramedic student gains new perspective thanks to cross sector placement

A GCU student’s cross sector placement has helped him develop in both a personal and professional capacity.

Second year BSc Paramedic Science student Thomas Millar spent two weeks in July at St Martin’s Housing Trust in Norwich, where he had the chance to support individuals who have been the victim of substance misuse.

Thomas sat down with us to discuss his professional journey so far, and how his experience this summer has helped give him a new perspective on both his future career and the outside world.

What made you decide to study Paramedic Science initially?

“I actually grew up with a chronic illness. Being told you’re doing better when you grow up in an environment where you think things will never improve is so important, and I think that really helped lead me down this path.

“My mum also encouraged me to consider a career in healthcare. She was a midwife in the Philippines, so I’ve followed her lead to a certain extent. After high school, I went to the City of Glasgow College and did an HNC in Healthcare Practice, and that landed me here at GCU.”

Tell me a bit about cross sector placements and the process behind choosing one?

“What’s really good about this type of placement is that the University gives us that chance to think about where we want to gain experience. I think cross sector placements allow you to see everyone’s personalities and what they’re invested in.

“One big thing for me is that it’s also a chance to build on my own insecurities. They really highlight where you need to learn more. I’ve always wanted to work with individuals that misuse substances so that I can help better understand their perspective. People often just assume and rely on stereotypes all the time, and that just doesn’t seem fair to me.”

You spent two weeks at St Martin’s Housing Trust in Norwich, how did that all come about?

“It’s actually quite interesting! I have a really nice social network at my church and I knew someone who worked at the organisation. So it was basically through word of mouth that I heard about the sort of things they do. It just felt really different to what happens up here.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever experienced anything like it because the previous times I’ve worked in care homes and support, I basically got someone ready for the day and moved on to the next person. For me, it doesn’t feel like you’re able to make a deep connection with them. Paramedicine is definitely better because you’re able to spend a bit more time with them. In the moment, you’re able to build that rapport.”

What does St Martin’s Housing Trust do?

“St Martin’s, and Highwater House (where I was based), basically looks after people who have been victims of substance misuse. It’s a building of long-term rehabilitation care. These individuals are given a place where they can live safely and have interventions where people look after them. It was really nice to see a place where someone might feel like they’ve wasted their life or made irreversible mistakes could just go and realise that they’re actually okay.

“It’s very different to the prison service because these individuals are given autonomy, they’re allowed to do their own thing. Most importantly, they’re treated like a person.

“A lot of these individuals don’t get involved in drugs out of malice. They don’t do it because they want to waste their life – it’s certain moments in their life that have led them down that path. It just feels such a shame that there’s not that compassion that we would usually afford others. That’s why I really enjoyed my time at Highwater House.”

It might seem unusual to some that a Paramedic Science student is spending time in an environment like that rather than on the front-line, but there’s so much more to the role…isn’t there?

“For me, it’s about exposure to different groups in society. All of us on the course have this idea that when we’re called to someone they’ll have a six-pack like the mannequins we have in the classroom and only have a general chest pain with a perfect medical history…that’s not the case.

“We have more diverse groups and we’ve got an ageing population. Being able to step out of that comfort zone and accept you don’t know how to look after these individuals is a massive step – it really helps you to grow and learn. It’s all about just being able to care better for people.”

What was the biggest thing you learned from the whole experience?

“The biggest thing I took from it was the outside perspective. It’s so easy to just stand back and look in, but it’s very difficult to get in and look out. I remember going into the placement with the stereotypes everyone has of homeless people, but it’s not like that. I spoke to one person who spiraled out of control with drugs after being spiked while at University. He’d been to different GPs and hospitals but had to keep taking drugs to stop the withdrawals. Hearing that just gives you a completely different perspective.

“I really valued having that time to just sit and chat to people. Hearing someone’s story is such a privilege, especially because we don’t get that luxury in healthcare.”

Do you have one specific highlight from your two weeks at St Martin’s?

“It might sound really silly but the fact the staff sit and eat with everyone was really impressive – there’s no separate staff room or anything like that. They all eat together in the big communal dining room – it’s just another thing that makes the people there feel human and almost part of a family. That really got to me.”

Would you encourage other healthcare students to try something a bit different for their cross sector placement?

“I think the biggest thing is to go where you least expect yourself to be. Go somewhere that you don’t feel like you know everything. Go somewhere that you want to be surprised, or somewhere you don’t think you’ll like. I guarantee your outlook will change.”

Find out more about GCU’s BSc Paramedic Science course

By Ross Clark   
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter