Freddie Arbuthnott, a 5th year medic at Robinson, is one of the Cambridge University medical students who volunteer as first responders.  They give up a minimum of 16 hours a month to assist the ambulance service with call outs. They’ve either completed the first, more theoretical, three years of their degree course, or are on the graduate course. Years 4, 5 and 6 of an undergraduate Medicine degree are the years of clinical training and practice where students get hands-on experience working in a hospital or GP’s surgery. While assisting the ambulance service they get called out to Category 1 and 2 calls which are ranked as the most urgent requiring swift responses.

The student first responders all say the same, they see it as privilege rather than a duty to be present while a patient may be at their most vulnerable and most in need of reassurance.

Freddie Arbuthnott finds the more one-to-one exposure to a patient and their circumstances helps inform any assessment of their health needs:

"The supervision on placement is brilliant and you learn a huge amount, but this is different. You meet people in their own homes, often right at the start of their healthcare journey, before they reach a hospital ward. Seeing where that journey begins, and the circumstances people are dealing with, changes how you understand their health needs. It makes you a more thoughtful clinician."

Jonathan Needle, EEAST Community Response Manager for Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, said while the medical students’ knowledge and experience is incredibly valuable, they worked within the scope of all Community First Responders (CFRs) and medical training was not a requirement for being a volunteer:
"We value all of our responders and appreciate the varied knowledge and experience that they bring. We provide a nationally-recognised, intensive six-day training course which is suitable for people from all kinds of backgrounds – the main requirement is having a sympathetic, caring nature and wanting to help your community."

Read the full story here . If you’re interested in volunteering with East of England Ambulance Service, you can find out more here