JOB. A new ambulance training course is being developed to meet the needs in Haute-Loire

Paramedic training has just started at the nursing school of the Emile-Roux hospital center in Puy-en-Velay. It intends to meet the multiple needs of businesses in Haute-Loire in a profession under pressure.

It is one of these so-called “front line” professions during the Covid crisis, essential to the functioning of medical structures: ambulance driver. A profession in tension in terms of recruitment for which no training was previously provided in the department of Haute-Loire, training now accessible in Puy-en-Velay. Thierry Devignes, business manager, welcomes this progress in the recognition of the profession: “It’s a little-known profession. People have a false image of our profession because they don't know it. They are surprised by the important role we have in the medical field. It is a profession in tension with recruitment. We have a lot of turnover. The schedules are not easy. There was a dip, there weren't many people coming out of training because of Covid and confinement. There, it's coming back. »

Indeed, there are two training courses, but the two diplomas are different : “The DEA is a diploma which takes place over one year, on a work-study basis or in specialized schools. The auxiliary diploma allows you to be in the crew with the DEA and to have an approach to the profession to be able to enter it. It's 15 days of training. Generally, people continue with the AED”explains Thierry Devignes.

So, to best train his staff, he sends several employees of his company to follow this course: “We spoke about our problems to the management of Emile-Roux. There was only one session per year, we lacked training. Thanks to this new system, we have 3 employees today in training for a year, who would not have gone to Saint-Etienne or Clermont. As soon as they knew they could train at Le Puy, they asked us. There are 3 auxiliaries who have been on permanent contracts with us for at least a year. They will come out with a state ambulance diploma, which will allow us to have more qualified personnel. »

To meet the needs of companies in this area, at the nursing training institute (IFSI) of Puy-en-Velay, training is now provided for the precious sesame: the state ambulance diploma. Pierre Morin, director of the IFSI, explains: “It’s a 12-month training course with two access options, either apprenticeship or professional training. Our objective was to diversify the health training offer in the region. We realized that learning alone was not going to be enough. It didn't cover all the requests. We communicate more and more and I think we will gain momentum. We also do not aim to train 50 people per year because we want the training to be sustainable. »

For this very first promotion, the key is an almost guaranteed job and a new qualification. A dozen students, mostly from the department, will follow the course, like Yohann Bredoire: “I have been an auxiliary for 5 years at Puy-en-Velay. I wanted to improve myself to evolve as a paramedic, to learn more things and become an experienced paramedic. We are often the first on the scene, you have to be qualified. The fact that it is in Le Puy, it is closer to home, it simplifies family life. It's simpler than going to Clermont, Saint-Etienne or Lyon. »

Doryan Person, another student paramedic, adds: “I did a scientific baccalaureate in Puy-de-Dôme, a BTS in real estate then I became a volunteer firefighter. I really liked it, I discovered something completely different. It made me want to turn to personal assistance. I became a paramedic assistant in 2022. My company needed qualified paramedics. The fact that it’s in Le Puy means I have to travel less. » Haute-Loire has around thirty ambulance companies, for around 300 ambulance drivers. Around forty jobs would be available there immediately.

-Comments collected by Laurent Cluzel for France 3 Auvergne