Kacey’s journey from patient to paramedic
By: Communications
In June 2021, Kacey Jones was looking forward to starting her BSc Paramedic Science at UEA that September, but following a car crash in Nottingham that left her with a broken back and a bleed on the brain, this looked extremely unlikely.
Following spinal surgery a week after the crash to fuse three of her vertebrae, it wasn’t even guaranteed that Kacey would be able to walk again, let alone enroll at UEA that same year. After months of bed rest and treatment, and despite only learning to walk again two weeks before the start of her course, Kacey’s determination and self-confessed “stubbornness” helped to ensure her studies began as planned.
In 2024, Kacey was involved in another car crash, thankfully this one was much less serious, but it did bring up feelings of trauma from 2021 that she had worked hard to address throughout the subsequent years.
Since the end of September 2024, Kacey, who lives in Costessey in Norfolk, has been on an intensive training course. As of 6 November, with her training complete, Kacey has been out on the road, putting her degree into practice within the region.
We spoke to her before she finished her training to catch up about her experiences at UEA, how she overcame her difficulties, and what she hopes for her future.
Did you always want to be a paramedic? What influenced your desire to pursue this career?
I always wanted a career in healthcare. I wanted to be able to make a difference and help individuals for the better. Pursuing paramedicine became apparent to me when realising I didn’t like working in offices or wards and seeing the same thing day in day out. Being a paramedic meant I could go to any environment and never know what each day brings.
What was the course like at UEA? Were there any particular highlights?
The course was really difficult. I faced a lot of challenges over the way, especially with occupational health, due to mobility issues. My highlight would be doing placements and getting to go to Canada.
It must have been tough with some of the course scenarios perhaps touching on things that were sensitive for you? How did you deal with this?
The first time I watched a road traffic collision video I had a panic attack and really struggled. Through CBT and lots of therapy I overcame flashbacks and issues. I managed to get involved in scenarios and multiple times have been a ‘patient’ in a car crash while other students practiced getting me out.
How is the training going? Did your degree help to prepare you?
Training has been supported well through East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) staff. I feel nervous about starting as a newly qualified paramedic as I haven’t seen a patient since the end of March. But my degree has prepared me well for knowing the hospitals and some of the staff.
What does the future hold for you? Do you think you’d like to remain on the frontline as a paramedic?
I have always known I want to travel as a paramedic. I want to volunteer or go abroad as a paramedic working in underdeveloped countries. Any opportunities I will take. Norfolk will always be my home, but I will come back and forth.
Do you have any advice for anyone thinking of becoming a Paramedic?
Take it at your own pace and don’t think about others’ progress. I did re-sits every year and had a lot of challenges, but if you want it enough you will make it happen.
I would say my advice is doing prior jobs in healthcare, such as being a care assistant, as that helped me with foundations of patient care and soft skills like communication.
I would say make sure you have a work life balance to help yourself mentally. You will see some traumatic stuff and if you only have work you will burn out and not function well. Lastly, utilise the University - they have great practice labs etc. which keep up your clinical skills. The staff are very knowledgeable and open to suggestions.