Reuben's Journey - HART Paramedic

Reuben Knightley is a hazardous area response team (HART) paramedic who has been with EEAST for nine years.

I joined the Trust in 2016 as part of the in-house student paramedic programme, working full-time while completing my university studies.

During my early training, I remember observing HART paramedics carrying out exercises at Melbourn HQ and being inspired by the unique role, particularly the specialist equipment and PPE they used.

After qualifying, I was based at Cambridge ambulance station, where I worked for six years before applying to join HART in 2022. I was motivated by the opportunity to take on a new challenge, develop advanced skills, and deliver patient care in unusual and often demanding circumstances.

I enjoy being part of a close-knit team, with a minimum of six operatives per base on duty 24/7. The strong bonds and collective experience within the team enable us to provide high-quality clinical care in complex environments. I love that we have the chance to acquire and apply a wide range of specialist skills, including working at height, in confined spaces, water rescue, CBRNE incidents (with breathing apparatus and gas-tight suit operations), ballistics and marauding terrorist attack training, urban search and rescue, and off-road driving for hard-to-reach patients. It's also great that we get regular training in all these disciplines, which ensures skills are continually maintained and enhanced.

Through HART, I have gained experience and developed capabilities that I would never have had the opportunity to achieve elsewhere. I find the role both rewarding and challenging, and I am proud to contribute to the vital work carried out by the team.