Paramedics play a vital role in the provision of emergency care to the community and are involved in life saving work at the scene of incidents and while working on ambulances.  As part of an ongoing recruitment drive, the HSE National Ambulance Service has profiled several individuals within the service.  A number of staff, who joined the ambulance service after coming to Ireland from their native countries, were recently involved in the campaign.

Anna Boisko

A friend encouraged Anna Boisko to join St John’s Ambulance in Limerick as a volunteer and she quickly found out that she really enjoyed the experience.

Anna later completed an Emergency Medical Technician course and worked for a private ambulance company.

A native of Latvia, Anna applied to become a Student Paramedic with the National Ambulance Service and is now working as an Intern Paramedic.

Anna is living and working in Loughrea, Co Galway and can speak Ukrainian, Russian and Latvian which is a great help to her in her work. 

"We meet all kinds of people from lots of different backgrounds and we are trained to treat each individual with the same care and professionalism. This is what makes the job so interesting and attractive."

Vasile Lung

Vasile Lung originally studied Veterinary Medicine in his native Romania so he had a knowledge of science, medicine and pharmacology when he decided to apply to become a Student Paramedic.

It was back in 2005 when Vasile enrolled in the National Ambulance Training School, as it was then. Based in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, he successfully completed the programme, becoming a Qualified Paramedic.

“It was different then. Now there are a lot more procedures and medications. We do a lot more now than we could do back then.”

Vasile worked at the St James’s Ambulance Base and the ambulance station in Swords before becoming an Advanced Paramedic in 2011. He works in the Dublin and Kildare areas mostly, but the job can take him to other places as well. 

“Every day is a challenge. Different experiences help you build up your confidence, skills and abilities to deal with people. We meet all kinds of people from lots of different backgrounds on the job and we are trained to treat each individual with the same care and professionalism. This is what makes the job so interesting and attractive. ”