Paramedic Science student wins NHS award for innovative project to improve learning and enhance patient healthcare

A University of Gloucestershire Paramedic Science student has won an award from the NHS after being at the forefront of an innovative and collaborative project to enhance student learning and improve patient healthcare outcomes.

Emily Bracken, who is working to towards a BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree, has been named the Student of the Year 2024 by the South Western Ambulance Service Foundation NHS Trust (SWASFT).

Emily has been instrumental in the formation of the Buddy Project, which is a student-led innovation to allow safe simulation practice of clinical skills and develop leadership and followership principles in students – the UK’s future healthcare professionals – across all three Paramedic Science year groups.

Serving a population of 5.5 million, SWASFT provides emergency and urgent care for the counties of Gloucestershire, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Bristol.

Emily (main image) said: “I was in complete shock when I found out I had won the Student of the Year award from SWASFT. I was not aware of my nomination, so it took me completely by surprise.

“I was able to network at the awards ceremony and gain valuable advice from a variety of people within SWASFT who were also curious to seek a younger person’s perspective. I left the evening excited for my future and inspired to achieve more.”

Emily said the Buddy Project supports students to make the transition through the different years of the BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science programme, which was designed in partnership with key Gloucestershire healthcare organisations and service users to prepare students for a career as a paramedic.

Emily said: “I found the transition from the first year to the second year extremely challenging, with such a significant academic jump as well as the addition of the new practical skills to learn, and my best friend Ella and other third-year students helped me massively with the change.

“I wanted to find a way to help integrate the different year groups to support each other and to reduce the gap between them by showing what’s to come.

“Not only does the Buddy Project prepare third-year students to become mentors, it allows first-year students to see all the practical skills they will gain throughout the course.

“I approached my tutor Gabriella Salmon to try bringing this idea to life, she supported me 110% and has been one of the pillars to help me get this project off the ground.

“I’m so grateful she saw the vision I had, and I am pleased to say that the Buddy Project will be officially launching in the coming weeks.”

Making a positive contribution to developing skills

Martin Hilliard, Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science from the University’s School of Health and Social Care, said: “We’re extremely proud of Emily’s success in winning the Student of the Year 2024 award from the South Western Ambulance Service Foundation NHS Trust.

“Our Paramedic Science programme had multiple students nominated for the award, and so Emily was up against a large pool of her peers. It is therefore an incredible achievement for her and reflects positively on the course.

“The innovative Buddy Project has highlighted Emily’s desire to make a positive contribution to developing the skills and knowledge that students will need as qualified healthcare professionals to improve patient care.

“The Buddy Project has been in development over the past year and is being rolled out officially across our Paramedic Science year groups this term.”