Wrexham Glyndwr University is now offering a degree in paramedic science, a role which is rocketing in popularity, due to a string of TV documentaries.

Shows such as the BBC’s Ambulance and Channel 4’s Paramedics: Britain’s Lifesavers have provided a glimpse into the life of a paramedic to the wider public.

It is the first time such a course has been available in this part of North Wales, and means prospective students from the area can stay local to pursue their studies.

The course will be led by senior lecturer Daniel Finnerty, who has been a paramedic since 2007 and arrives at Wrexham Glyndwr from Birmingham City University.

He is now looking forward to launching the new degree, which has already received huge interest from prospective students.

Daniel said: “It’s such an exciting opportunity to create a modern paramedic programme from scratch.

“This is one of the first paramedic programmes to be written post-Covid. It will focus on the importance of patient assessment, use of technology, use of simulation during education.

“I’ve almost been overwhelmed by how many people who live locally seem to have been waiting for this opportunity. There’s always been great interest in paramedic Science because it’s such a visible profession.

“Young people that have approached me about the course so far tend to be local, they want to stay local, and want to stay home. Then there are others who have wanted to do this for a very long time, or are currently in the ambulance service, or a first responding role locally, who are also able to pursue it as it’s close to home.”

“The documentaries are great to introduce what we do to the wider public as you can’t go in an ambulance on work experience - but they are dramatised - so we want people who have researched and know what paramedics do, who know that what is shown on TV is 10 per cent of the job."

The HEIW commission means that bursary funding may be available for eligible students who commit to working in Wales after completion of their studies.

Students who accept the bursary and commit to working in Wales for the first two years of their career gain the opportunity to become part of its dedicated NHS workforce.