paramedic vs radiographer

currently in year 11, picking maths, biology and chemistry at a level. i’m interested in various nhs roles including paramedic science and radiography. i’m wondering what the pros and cons of the roles are, the ins and outs of the job and how I could work towards these roles

Hello!
I'm Alex and I'm a Student Ambassador for York St John. We offer both Paramedic Science and Diagnostic Radiography at undergraduate level, which will equip you with everything you need to work towards these professions! In terms of working towards these roles, a degree is mandatory, whether this be through University or through a degree apprenticeship. Our Paramedic Science degree includes placement hours, where throughout your course you can go and gain work experience as a Paramedic to really get a taste for the job, and our new Diagnostic Radiography course offers lots of specialist equipment which is listed on the course page.
For these courses (but specifically Paramedic Science), you could start looking for some work experience to complete alongside your A-Levels, which could give you a boost compared to other candidates. Any environment where a paramedic works, or places that give you insight into healthcare practice, would be ideal experience and would give you lots to talk about in your personal statement and interview. Volunteering is the most popular form of experience, but there are some paid options. This page from the NHS on gaining work experience can offer some guidance on how to get started, and this page from The Medical Portal offers age-specific advice for teenagers looking to find work experience in healthcare. Organisations such as St Johns Ambulance Service accept volunteers of all ages, so if you can find something of this nature nearby it would be fantastic!
In terms of getting to know the roles better, the Prospects pages on Paramedic and Diagnostic Radiographer can help you get started in your research. And with your A-Levels, Maths, Biology and Chemistry are fantastic choices as these degrees want Biology and Science related subjects and experience.
If you have any more questions, let me know!
Alex

thank you so much for such a helpful reply! at the minute i’m leaning more to being a paramedic. during the summer and possibly throughout sixth form i’m planning on volunteering at my local hospital would this be beneficial? i’m also very much interested in work experience, i don’t currently have any planned but i was thinking at a gp surgery, a pharmacy, a dentists or at a hospital setting. is there any particular placements you could recommend?

Of course! I'm glad I could help. Our degree for Paramedic Science doesn't specify a certain amount of experience to be undertaken, so during the summer or other school holidays would be ideal as you don't have to worry about fitting it around your studies. But if you can manage that alongside your A-Levels, the more experience the better! I'd suggest experience that gives you insight into frontline healthcare, so hospital would be ideal, but any healthcare experience is better than none.
Placement opportunities can depend on your location, so I'd suggest looking into ambulance volunteering in your area. Some great placements would include well-known establishments such as St Johns Ambulance Service or The Red Cross, who have been known to take volunteers from the age of 15. If this isn't available, many hospitals will accept college-age students as volunteers on wards and offer shadowing opportunities. This page from the NHS (linked here) has a link to local NHS services in your area which you can contact in regards to work opportunities. This NHS page on gaining experience (linked here) has a fantastic guide on how to go about gaining work experience, such as where to look for opportunities and who might be able to help you. I'd suggest asking your college careers advisor if they have any links to healthcare volunteering they could recommend as a place to start!
Good luck!
Alex

thank you so much for such a helpful reply! at the minute i’m leaning more to being a paramedic. during the summer and possibly throughout sixth form i’m planning on volunteering at my local hospital would this be beneficial? i’m also very much interested in work experience, i don’t currently have any planned but i was thinking at a gp surgery, a pharmacy, a dentists or at a hospital setting. is there any particular placements you could recommend?

currently in year 11, picking maths, biology and chemistry at a level. i’m interested in various nhs roles including paramedic science and radiography. i’m wondering what the pros and cons of the roles are, the ins and outs of the job and how I could work towards these roles

Hiya!
Not a para (yet) but I am applying to para sciences. I reccomend having a look at the NHS cadets and SJA online. Or just pop an email to your ambulance trust (do you know which one?) These give you a good insight into what it's like!

Thank you for the idea, I’ve heard a lot about St John’s however i’m not sure if they operate in my area, what kind of things could they help me with do you know?

So they can do first aid courses and you can join there cadets (there are different ones dependent on your age) which after some workshops/training you can volunteer at events with them. They will guide you through everything so don't worry. Not directly related but next year I recommend doing the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. You get first aid training skills which you might need to actually use in a real setting.
Here is the link: https://www.sja.org.uk/
Also, try to get some work experience in a general healthcare setting (I did a GP and Hospital placement). Also, it is early days so remember not to restrict yourself- I initially was convinced I was doing medicine until I realised it was not for me. It is a physically and emotionally demanding job and it isn't always driving with blue lights and sirens like they make it seem in documentaries (eg having to tell someone why *insert call reason* isn't appropriate for a 999 call)! There are also so many different kinds of paras like HART, HEMS etc... so do have a look at those too.
Sorry this is a bit lengthy- please feel free to message me with any questions! I was in your position not too long ago so I would be happy to help.