West Midlands Ambulance Service boss calls for staff return

West Midlands Ambulance Service is putting in place additional measures to ensure it can continue to get to those most in need of help quickly and save as many lives as possible.

Although the Trust has been able to recruit hundreds of additional staff in control rooms and ambulances using funding provided by NHS England in the summer, WMAS chief executive, Anthony Marsh, said they wanted to go further.

He said: "We are once again, looking for any staff who retired within the last two years or are working in the private sector for the likes of events medical companies who would like to come back into the NHS family to get in touch.

“We are particularly looking for people who worked on an ambulance or in one of our control rooms to contact us.

"We have already had former members of staff get in touch who went on a career break offering to come back, which we welcome.

“Over the last couple of years, we know that several staff have retired from our service after giving many years of outstanding care to the public.

“We would like those colleagues to consider returning to WMAS so that we can increase the quality and amount of care that we can provide the public in these challenging times.”

Paramedic Rich Jones was one of those who answered a similar call in March 2020.

He said: “I saw the situation that the country faced then and with Omicron as it is, we all need to do our part to help the country.

“Coming back in this way means you can fit the shifts in around your ‘new’ life. I do it part time because it fits around my other roles.

"In fact, it works so well that I’ve stayed working part-time ever since and would urge others who are in a similar position to give it a go too.”

For those interested in re-joining the Service, please email recruitment manager Louise Jones at louise.jones@wmas.nhs.uk in the first instance, letting her know your previous role.