2020 CAA207: London Ambulance Service Placement Guide

2020 CAA207: London Ambulance Service

          Placement Guide

London Ambulance Placement Information Booklet
Congratulations on your successful application to undertake 2020 CAA207 with the London
Ambulance Service (LAS). We are sure you will have an amazing placement, with numerous learning
opportunities that will build on your foundational knowledge. No doubt, you will also enjoy living
and exploring London.
This information booklet is provided to assist students in preparing to travel to the United Kingdom,
live and attend placement in London. Due to the ever changing world we live in today, as well as
students’ personal circumstances, this guide is not a one stop shop, and therefore should be used
with other resources such as Smart Traveller, guidebooks, Visit Britain, etc.
The PEP Team is here to help you, please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Living in London
London is one of the world’s oldest cities. It is the largest city in Europe and one of the most densely
populated cities in the world with a population of 8 million and approximately 16 million tourists per
year as well as a large inflow of workers on a daily basis. This is a huge contrast to both Sydney and
Hobart. Applicants need to consider how they will cope with being immersed in such a megacity.
To undertake this placement, students will need to be able to meet all travel related and living
expenses including airfares and accommodation. As London is an expensive city, students need to
ensure they have enough funds available to sustain their stay. Students are responsible for arranging
their own travel and accommodation.
The NSW PEP Team is aware it is cheaper to book accommodation early, and will work with LAS to
provide students with their station allocation as soon as possible. When seeking accommodation,
students should carefully consider public transport and internet availability as well as cost and
security of the site.
International roaming costs are expensive, and as most students will be away for a minimum of
three weeks, it is recommended to purchase a local SIM card for use during your stay. SIM cards can
be purchased prior to or on arrival. When considering purchasing a SIM card, students should take
into account if their phone is locked, and how much data they will use.
Similar to Sydney, London has a cashless public transport system, based around the Oyster card. The
Oyster card is an electronic smart card that is used to tap on and off public transport in London.
Cards can be purchased prior to arrival in London, or at airports on arrival. Contactless credit/debit
cards are also able to be used.
Students considering this opportunity will need to be aware of any Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade (DFAT) alerts and must register for email subscriptions with smarttraveller.gov.au.
Students will need to inform the University of their accommodation address and contact details
while in London. Next of Kin details need to be up-to-date in eStudent. Students will also be required
to access their UTas email account regulary as this is the main communication pathway for
placement information.

Placement
Students will have the opportunity to extend their beginning paramedic practice through exploring
other cultures, other health care systems and different approaches to paramedic education.
London Ambulance Service will provide students with a comprehensive orientation on the first day
of placement. Therefore, it is essential for students to arrive in London with enough time to rest
before commencing.
Student are advised to take their University of Tasmania full uniform, except safety helmets as these
will be provided.
Paramedic Work and Supervision

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Students respond to a broad range of calls while on placement with LAS. Shifts are very busy, with
back to back jobs, often with no meal stops. It is recommended students take their own
refreshments to snack on between jobs. It is very rare to sleep on night shifts.
LAS have their own protocols, separate to those used by Australian Ambulance Services. An example
is manual handling, therefore if students are not comfortable performing any manual handling
techniques (lifting, carrying, pushing) advocate for yourself (and your safety) and politely inform
your paramedics, explaining that a particular technique is not within your scope of practice.
As you progress through your placement, students will practise alongside many specialist paramedic
roles. These roles may not currently be developed in Australia; however, it is highly likely with the
introduction of paramedic registration in Australia, that similar roles will evolve here.
Students will be allocated to a preceptor, however, the preceptor may work with a different partner
each shift, giving students a great opportunity to see how different paramedics operate.
As this placement is observational only, students are unable to perform any invasive skills. Students
will be able to develop other aspects of their paramedic practice, with LAS emphasising the
development of your assessment skills. Past students have commented that history taking,
communication and patient assessment were key areas they developed while undertaking this
placement.
It is recommended students consider their own intended learning outcomes prior to commencing
this placement, which may range from experiencing a different culture and society, different health
care delivery modes and roles to that available in Australia, and how this may impact concepts of
health and disease.
Students will have regular contact from a University of Tasmania representative during their LAS
placement.
Station Allocations/Shifts
LAS is very supportive of students, with a great culture of mentorship.
It is possible to negotiate extra shifts; however, students should ensure they are well rested for all
their shifts.
LAS will allocate students to a station hub, where students will then be re-allocated to stations
within this hub. LAS provide the hub stations to University of Tasmania several weeks prior to
placement. While rosters may be available prior to arrival in London, more often they will be
provided during Orientation.

Preparing for Placement
Students will need to register with InPlace their details and completion of specific pre-LAS placement
requirements. The LAS Placement planner is also available here (hyperlink LAS planner here to be
downloaded) to assist students plan for their London placement.
A letter will be provided by the University of Tasmania confirming the purpose of the travel is an
observational placement to be presented at United Kingdom border control as needed.
Finances
Successful applicants may be eligible to apply for either a OS-HELP loan and/or a University of
Tasmania Overseas Travel Scholarship. It is the student’s responsibility to research these options and
decide if they are appropriate for their circumstances. The NSW PEP Team is able to assist students’
applications with a letter of support as needed.

If you are currently receiving Austudy, Youth Allowance or Abstudy, you may be able to apply to
have these payments continue while you are overseas. You will need a letter from the Student
Mobility Office confirming your participation in an overseas study program. Be sure to email us well
before your departure to obtain this letter. For more details about payments please visit:
www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/outside-australia or contact your Centrelink officer.

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Note: Centrelink expects you to declare scholarship/grant monies as income, but the Tax Office does
not. This is because scholarship/grant monies are considered to be ex-gratia payments, not ‘earned’.

Ongoing Study Commitments
Students will also need to consider how they will manage on-going study commitments, including
time differences while away. You will need to plan to arrive in London with 24 hours clear before the
placement commences, your travel should not include the examination, DO/supp periods, or other
unit class times. Where a clash of unit requirements looks likely, you will need to discuss these with
your unit and course coordinator before booking your travel.
Pre-Placement Briefings
There will be several pre-placement briefings to assist students prepare for the international
placement. These briefings will occur in early April and early August, depending on the timing of
your placement.
The briefings will cover topics including passports, travel insurance, setting yourself up for life in
London and on placement. Former students will also attend to provide guidance to students. The
briefings will also provide an opportunity for students to meet their fellow travellers.
Insurance
Students will be covered by the University of Tasmania Work Integrated Learning Indemnity
Insurance while on placement.
Students must have travel insurance for the entire period of travel, including repatriation cover.
Students will need to login to InPlace for further information. Once students have completed the
insurance process, they will be required to submit their registration form to InPlace.
Students are also required to register with the University of Tasmania’s international assistance
partner, SOS International and download the app, which provides information and assistance for
many questions students may have.
Personal Well-Being
Personal well-being and mental health are always important, especially so during placement. Being
away from home, friends and family, sometimes for the first time may be challenging. Your student
peers are a good source of support while in London. If students feel they need additional support,
please reach out to your LAS mentor (TBA).
Students are also able to access UTas counselling via
http://www.utas.edu.au/students/shw/counselling
Ongoing Health Conditions
If students have any chronic or episodic health problems (e.g. asthma, diabetes, heart disease) speak
to your doctor or specialist about how to manage your condition while abroad. Make sure you take
with you any required documentation about your condition. Discuss with your doctor or specialist
what you should do in the case of an acute episode.
Stock up on contact lenses and/or take a spare pair of glasses with you overseas. Carry a copy of
your lens prescription with you, so that if you lose your glasses or contact lenses you can replace
them easily.
If you take prescription medication, seek advice from your doctor about stocking up before you go.
Cost may be a factor - medication may be cheaper here because of the Australian Pharmaceutical
Benefit Scheme, especially if you have a Health Care Card.
If students will be travelling with prescription medication, make sure your doctor provides a copy of
your prescriptions and a letter detailing all medications’ generic name in case customs query it.
Generic names are preferred as brand names may differ internationally. This will also assist if
medical attention is required while travelling.
Students should also inform their airline if medication will be taken during the flight (e.g. insulin for
diabetes).
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Documentation
Students should consider their personal circumstances, and ensure they are able to access any
documentation they believe they will need while travelling. The list below is a guide only.
A letter will be provided by the University of Tasmania, confirming the purpose of the travel is an
observational placement to be presented at United Kingdom border control as needed. Border
Control will expect to see hard copies of all travel, placement and accommodation related
documentation.
Other documentation that will be needed include:
    •    University of Tasmania contact details
    •    Placement Host contact details
    •    Banking details, including what to do if cards are lost/stolen
Make sure you keep a copy of your passport details, airline ticket, credit card/s and any other
important documents in a separate place in your luggage. You might also want to leave a copy of
these details with a trusted relative or friend in Australia and email yourself copies for easy access.
Make sure you have a copy of proof of funds and proof of accommodation to ensure a swift passage
through immigration once you arrive into the UK.

Return
Students will be required to particpate in post-placement debriefing. Staff are interested in hearing
of placement experiences, as well as continous improvement to the program. Students will also be
invited to provide testimonials and information to future students.
On return from placement with LAS, students are encouraged to consider applying for the Vice-
Chancellor’s Leadership Program, which will appear on your academic transcript, and contribute to
your employability. Further information is available: http://www.utas.edu.au/students/lead-
achieve/vice-chancellors-leadership-program

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