A newly qualified paramedic is encouraging others to join the Welsh Ambulance Service - calling it “one of the best decisions I’ve made.”

Kristy Gordon, who studied in Liverpool and who undertook placements in Manchester, recently Welsh Ambulance Service, based in Welshpool.

The 35-year-old, who lives in Oswestry, applied for a role in Wales to be closer to home and embrace the challenges of working in the countryside.

Ms Gordon said: “All of my experience prior to this role was city-based in built up areas, working out of large, busy ambulance stations in and around Greater Manchester.

“The truth is that being Shropshire born and bred, I’m not very good with cities.

“I joined the Welsh Ambulance Service not only to be closer to home, but because I wanted the challenge of working in a rural area."

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Kristy began her career as an osteopath, having been inspired to train by her experience in horse dressage as a youngster.

She said: “It was horse-riding in my 20s which inspired me to be an osteopath, and it was my work as an osteopath and the study of human anatomy which inspired me to train as a paramedic, so it was a natural progression.

Ms Gordon said the variety of work in the area makes the job continuously interesting: “The patient demographic and type of incidents here is so varied, and the longer journey to hospital – sometimes up to an hour – actually affords you more time to put your clinical skills to the test and really think about your management of the patient.

“You can also use that time to get to know your patients really well.

“To chat to a 102-year-old recently was an absolute delight, and having been a member of the Young Farmers’ Club, I also enjoy talking to farmers about their land and livestock.

Ms Gordon says the change will help her progress in her career: “Although I only joined the Trust in February, there’s ample opportunity to progress to an advanced paramedic practitioner or operations manager role.

“Becoming a paramedic was a baptism of fire, but joining the Welsh Ambulance Service was one of the best decisions I’ve made.”