YAA celebrates high number of female HEMS paramedics

The organization now has nine female HEMS paramedics – seconded from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust – including a batch of five new paramedics who joined YAA earlier this year.

The nine female paramedics now account for nearly half of the total number of YAA’s total paramedic team – alongside 11 male paramedics. This is far above the national average – just one in four paramedics is female in the UK.

YAA Acting Clinical Operations Manager Paul Holmes said: “We are very proud to have such an incredible, hardworking and highly skilled team of male and female HEMS Paramedics. Gender shouldn’t matter as long as you’re able to do the job and these women are just as physically fit as their male counterparts. It’s fantastic to be part of a charity that celebrates gender equality.”

“I don’t think it matters what sex you are, as long as you can do the job”

HEMS Paramedic Fiona Blaylock, a recent YAA recruit, said: “Being a female HEMS paramedic is amazing and being successful in applying for a seconded position to this role is one of my proudest achievements. When I applied a few years ago, I remember thinking that there were more males than females on the team and would this affect my chance of getting a position.”

“I had previously served as a combat medic in the British Army, and this was very much a male-dominated environment. I always felt like I needed to prove myself as a female,” she added. “Everyone in the HEMS team has been so welcoming. I don’t think being a female in the team is any different to being a male in the team. We are all as capable as each other. I don’t think it matters what sex you are, as long as you can do the job.”

“Historically … there have been more males on the base than females”

Paramedic Tammy Williams said: “Historically on the HEMS’ base, it has been statistically evident that there have been more males on the base than females. HEMS has been my dream goal and occupation that I have always wanted to achieve, so I feel extremely privileged to be here. I also feel extremely proud to be part of such a dynamic, supportive and highly experienced team that treats and cares for time-critical patients.”

HEMS Paramedic Gemma Richmond, who has worked at the Charity for two years and has been a Paramedic for more than 20 years, said: “I think in the past it was probably looked at as a male-orientated role. I’ve been in the service for 20 years now and it’s now a lot more 50:50, especially on the road. I think the make-up of staff is nicely balanced; it appeals to more females now because they bring something different, especially if you get a male and female crew in the aircraft – you tick every box, and you can deal with so many different cases. It’s nicely spread out and encourages good teamwork when you get that mix. I work with another female paramedic quite often as a double female crew and sometimes it can be a surprise to patients when two female paramedics turn up. But I’ve never considered it as anything different.”

YAA is also looking to replace its current Airbus H145 D2 helicopters, which entered service in 2016, by the end of Summer 2023.