Paramedics who saved her dad inspire Keele graduate’s career
When Hannah Standing witnessed paramedics save her dad - not once, but twice - it didn’t just bring reassurance in moments of crisis. It shaped her future.
The compassion and reassurance they showed during his emergencies inspired her to begin training as a paramedic, determined to offer the same care to others in the future. Hannah’s dad, Conway, was helped twice by paramedics - when he had Covid-19 in 2020 and after he collapsed in a store in Derby in 2023.
Today, Hannah graduated from Keele University with first-class honours in Paramedic Science with an Integrated Master’s (MSci), watched proudly by her parents, Conway and Sarah, and her partner Louie, completing a journey from the patient’s daughter to a paramedic.
“When my dad got Covid-19, he became breathless and unwell, and my mum and I felt so helpless at the time. It was a horrible situation because we couldn’t really do anything to help him,” said Hannah.
“Two paramedics came to our house, and they took care of my dad and were so kind and reassuring to my mum and I, and that’s when I knew I wanted to do their job. It’s been quite a journey from starting university to graduating today, but I feel very proud of what I’ve achieved.”
Hannah is now working as a registered paramedic in Nottingham for Central Medical Services, a 24/7 private ambulance and medical service provider for both the NHS and private clients. As a frontline emergency paramedic, she is putting her skills into practice on a daily basis and making a difference to people’s lives.
The 23-year-old, from Elvaston in Derbyshire, said: “I passed my four-week blue light driving course in October 2025, I started the job in November, and it’s been both challenging and rewarding at the same time so far. I feel like I am learning so much on the job with every shift I do. It will sound like a cliché, but no two days are the same.
“It does feel amazing to now be fully qualified and working as a paramedic, and I hope that I am already making a difference to people’s lives. Every shift throws up something different, and you never know what the next job is going to be, but that variety is a major factor in my development.”
During her graduation ceremony, Hannah was also presented with the Vice-Chancellor’s Commendation award after being named runner-up in the University’s Neil and Gina Smith Student of the Year Award.
At Keele, Hannah co-founded and served as Secretary of Keele University Students’ Union Paramedic Society, which was recently named Society of the Year for its contributions, including a 24-hour CPR marathon that raised £3,770 for Midlands Air Ambulance and trained hundreds in life-saving skills.
As a Student Voice Representative for three years, Hannah helped shape Keele’s first integrated Master’s paramedic cohort. She presented at the UK Student Paramedic Conference in Swansea, took part in an international placement in Finland, and completed more than 350 volunteer hours.
And Hannah, who also gained a Robinson R22 helicopter pilot licence in 2022, was recently named runner-up in The Health and Care Professions Council Student Competition, out of 21 submissions nationwide. She created a training package on speaking up and raising concerns based on her own experiences as a paramedic student, which is now published on the organisation’s Student Hub.
Reflecting on her time at Keele, Hannah said: “I loved the course and all the different ways we were taught, such as in lectures, group sessions and simulations. That gave such a good variety to my learning. What I am most grateful for about studying at Keele is the placement opportunities we were given, which have made me such a well-rounded clinician.
“Beyond ambulance placements, I was able to gain experience in hospitals, a GP surgery, mental health and end-of-life care settings, to name some of them, and I gained so much experience and knowledge from it all. I’ve already had moments in my new role where someone has asked how I know something, and it’s because of the placements we were given at Keele.”
Hannah’s dad, Conway, said: “My wife and I are so proud of our daughter Hannah. Her determination to succeed in everything she attempts is truly admirable. It’s clear that when she sets a goal, nothing will stop her from achieving it.
“Along the way, she often takes on additional tasks that add value to others as well as to her own goals. She commits herself 100 per cent to everything she does and always strives to perform to the very best of her ability. She never hesitates to take opportunities to expand her knowledge.”
