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Introducing Graduate Intern: Harry

Introducing Graduate Intern: Harry

Though Harry had an unexpected start to his paramedicine career he was fortunate to have colleagues who supported each other throughout.

Graduate Intern Harry

Joining the team in February meant maintaining an expert level of care for his patients was the priority, but there was also a need to be conscious about the impact COVID-19 was having around him – something that occasionally made Harry feel like he’d been thrown in the deep.

“Being out on the road is a whole different world. You really do see everything...and I mean everything,” Harry explains.

“Luckily everyone was very proactive about checking up on each other to see how everyone’s holding up. It has been a massive learning step though.”

While Harry was studying, he continued to have his eyes on working at Wellington Free Ambulance, even from across the pond. 

“As a small, tight-knit, clinically-focused service it seemed like the best place to be. I remember flying over from Sydney for a few days to see the city and instantly fell in love,” Harry says. 

But what confirmed Wellington Free Ambulance was the place he wanted to be were those he met; people who would later become colleagues and some of his closest friends. 

“Being able to recognise when each other needs support has been really important over the last few months. Good and bad, we’re always there for each other.” 

"Particularly in my graduate class, we became mates very quickly; all coming over from Australia and not fully knowing what we were getting ourselves into made us bond fast. During the lockdown, it was comforting to have people to rely on."

For the Aussie lad, 2020 will definitely be a year that he’ll never forget.

“Clinically the best thing to do is to stick to the basics; keep the airway clear, manage the breathing, stop bleeding and so on, and support each other.”

“But meeting people of all walks of life every day and to hear their stories has been incredible; being able to help and make a difference to people lives is one of the best feelings,” Harry says.

“The feeling of having made a real connection with the patient and family members throughout a job is important to me, particularly at the end of a job when I say my goodbyes and they’re very thankful.”

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As our patient, and under the Health and Disability Commissioner’s Code of Rights, you have the right to:

  • Be treated with respect
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  • Freedom from discrimination, coercion, harassment and exploitation
  • dignity and independence
  • Services of an appropriate standard
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  • Support
  • Respect of teaching or research
  • Complain

If we don’t respect these, let us know and we’ll do everything we can to put it right.


Support in the process

If you need support or help with making a complaint, you can contact the office of the Health and Disability Commissioner and ask for an advocate.

www.hdc.org.nz
0800 555 050

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