Paramedics recruited from Eastern Europe begin training

Paramedics recruited from Eastern Europe by South Western Ambulance Service have begun their practical training.

The 17 recruits have been working at a specialist centre in Gloucester, acting out different scenarios to test their medical knowledge.

Vacancies at the Trust have fallen by almost a quarter since the recruitment drive in Prague in May.

In May the Trust had concerns over recruitment levels among paramedics. Now its vacancy rate is down a quarter:

South Western Ambulance Service says it has a lot riding on the pilot.