County's first female paramedic retires

Sally Pattie joined the ambulance service in 1980 and urged other women to consider the career

A county's first female paramedic has retired after 44 years and is encouraging others to consider it as a career.

Sally Pattie, 67, joined the Essex Ambulance Service in 1980 at the age of 23, before it was merged into the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

She was chosen for the new role of paramedic in 1988, which involved extra training and exams, and only about seven male ambulance workers in the county were appointed before her.

"I would say to any women or young girls who are thinking of joining that they should definitely go for it," she said.

"It’s not mundane, no two jobs are the same, you meet lots of people, and you gain medical knowledge you never forget," she continued.

Ms Pattie used to work for the Bank of England but decided to join the ambulance service to help people.

She said: "We weren’t just A&E, we did day care taking elderly people to homes and, in between those jobs, we answered emergencies."

Head of clinical operations Sandra Treacher said: "Sally joined the ambulance service at a time when the role was traditionally male dominated, but her passion, skill and determination quickly paved the way for others.

"As Essex’s first female paramedic, she has not only set an inspiring example for future generations but has also been a true pioneer in healthcare."

She retired on 13 October and said she planned to spend more time with her dog and playing golf.