Welsh Ambulance Service celebrates International Paramedics Day
PARAMEDICS across Wales are gearing up to celebrate International Paramedics Day (IPD) on July 08, joining more than 130 organisations worldwide in marking the occasion.
This year’s theme, Unity and Community, was selected by the College of Paramedics, which founded IPD, to highlight the importance of collaboration between paramedics and the communities they serve.
It is only by working together that the big challenges in health and care can be overcome and patient outcomes improved.
On this day, paramedic-affiliated organisations across the globe will join the College of Paramedics to recognise and honour paramedics, first responders and community volunteers.
The day will also provide an opportunity to focus on why working partnerships are crucial to healthcare systems around the world.
No paramedic works in isolation; they work with colleagues, crew members, as part of multi-disciplinary teams and with other health organisations to achieve real impact and deliver excellent patient-centred care.
Teamwork allows them to foster a deeper sense of belonging, pool resources, expertise and best practices.
It increases their ability to solve problems which can lead to more effective treatment plans, provides better coordination of care, and ultimately, improves outcomes for patients.
By working together, paramedics can learn from each other, exchange ideas, and stay up to date on the latest research and developments in their respective fields.
Andy Swinburn, Executive Director of Paramedicine at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “On International Paramedics Day, we recognise the dedication and vital contribution of paramedics across Wales and beyond, who deliver skilled, timely care when it matters most.
“No paramedic works alone.
“This year’s theme, unity and community, highlights the essential role of collaboration in healthcare.
“Working as part of a wider team, paramedics draw on shared knowledge to support patients, overcome challenges, and advance the profession.
“Today, we honour those who bring compassion, expertise, and resilience to every call, ensuring the best possible care for those in need.”
The College of Paramedics first launched International Paramedics Day in 2022.
Since then, the number of UK and global partners that have pledged their support for the campaign has continued to grow, and the vital work of paramedics is now recognised, talked about and celebrated in over 30 countries.
Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive of the College of Paramedics, said: “Paramedicine is not just a profession — it is a collective calling.
This year’s theme, Unity and Community, reminds me that behind every single response, every decision, and every act of care or compassion, there is a team — a network of support, knowledge, practice and shared purpose.
It’s through this unity that we are able to find strength when things seem bleak, or we are weary.
“And it’s through our community that we create lasting impact on those who come into contact with us through our professional lives, or through our people volunteering to offer their skills wherever they may be needed.
On this International Paramedics Day on July 08, let’s celebrate the power and possibility of working together, because when we unite, we may not only end up changing lives, we have the potential to transform futures as well.”
International Paramedics Day takes place every year on July 08 because this marks the anniversary of the birth of Dominique Jean Larrey, the French military doctor who became Napoleon Bonaparte’s chief surgeon of the Grand Armee and the man often referred to as the 'father of modern-day ambulance services.'
For more information about International Paramedics Day go to www.internationalparamedicsday.com