'I want to help people like those who saved my dad'

"I want to help people just like the paramedics who helped save my dad," says Hannah Standing.

She is now training to be a paramedic after her dad Conway was saved twice - when he had Covid-19 in 2022 and after he collapsed in a Derby store a year later.

Ms Standing is in her fourth year studying paramedic science with an integrated masters at Keele University in Staffordshire.

The 22-year-old, from Elvaston in Derbyshire, said the "reassurance and care" given to her dad by paramedics was something she wanted to give to other people in her future line of work.

"I want to make a difference in people's lives, and if I can reassure and care for people like the paramedics reassured me and my mum, I know I am doing something right," said Ms Standing.

Ms Standing said her passion towards caring for people came when she did work experience at a care home that her dad owns.

"I absolutely loved being with the people at the care home, but I knew I didn't want to be inside all day for a job," she added.

Ms Standing said paramedics were the ones that reassured her that her dad was going to be OK after he became breathless whilst suffering with Covid.

"My dad is my rock who is always there to help me, but in that moment, it was horrible because we couldn't help him; my mum and I felt vulnerable and helpless," she added.

"When the two paramedics came to our house, they took care of him and reassured us he was going to be OK. That is when I decided that their job is the one I wanted to do."

Her dad was helped again by paramedics after he collapsed in the store in Derby, and Ms Standing said that incident "reinforced" her drive to train as a paramedic at university.

"Paramedics carried out an electrocardiogram (ECG) test on my dad, and they found out it was irregular heartbeats that were causing his dizziness," she added.

"If it wasn't for the paramedics finding his irregular heartbeats, then I don't think he would have had his pacemaker fitted, which means he is OK now.

"We aren't just people that transfer people to hospital; we do make a big difference."

As well as training to become a paramedic, Ms Standing also gained a Robinson R22 helicopter pilot licence in 2022 but said she does not want to become an air ambulance paramedic.

"My dad is a helicopter pilot as well, and he started my hobby of driving helicopters when I was 15," said Ms Standing.

"Being a helicopter pilot is still a passion of mine, so I'm going to get my degree and have the best of both worlds.

"When I do finish university, I would love to get a job with East Midlands Ambulance Service, but the role of a paramedic is expanding, so there are lots of options for me in the future."

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