Dispatcher Arlaine Bradshaw celebrates 30 years' service

Back in June, Dispatcher Arlaine Bradshaw celebrated the amazing achievement of 30 years in the ambulance service.  We caught up with Arlaine as her Norwich EOC colleagues helped mark the occasion with celebratory cakes and flowers!

Here’s what she had to say:

"I began in patient transport services based out of Hellesdon, where I spent three years working with the day-care patients for St Andrew's and Hellesdon hospitals. We also looked after patients with appointments for the old Norfolk and Norwich and the West Norwich Hospital. I can remember lots of interesting patients and it feeling more relaxed back then. You'd have eight patients all with their own walking sticks or frames - keeping track of whose is whose could be challenging as they would often try to get off with someone else’s!

"In 1989 I moved to A&E operations and had to go to Bolton to train as a technician. It included two weeks of driver training and they took us out to focus on our motorway driving. We don't have any motorways in Norfolk and some roads weren't even duelled back then, so it was a bit of shock! After my training, I was based out of Hellesdon again before moving to Dereham ambulance station where I worked until coming into EOC.

"Around 2003, I was offered a six month secondment into EOC as a dispatcher. There was a course beginning that Monday and I was told to go along… the rest is history.

"I work with a great team of people, which really helps, especially on those night shifts when you need a laugh or a smile to get through".

What's next for Arlaine?  "A lottery win would be nice!"

Published 4th August, 2016