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Jack McKie

Clinical care assistant Jack, who is originally from London, joined Team NEAS in 2021. Prior to working in the ambulance service, the 31-year-old ran hotels in London and Edinburgh. He and his partner, Richard, have now made the North East home for the foreseeable future, and recently welcomed a black Labrador into their home.

Q. What attracted you to the job?

A. The unknown... and being able to meet people from all walks of life

Q. What brings you to work every day?

A. I never know what my day will look like. Long gone are the hundreds of emails to respond to, I now work in the present.

Q. What is an average shift like?

A. Eclectic...no day is like the other. It can be stressful, but is generally grounding and worthwhile.

Q. What skills do you think people need to be able to do your job?

A. You need to be able to have a chat with someone, to be able to walk into that room and smile, reassure and keep a level head.

Q. It can be a traumatic job at times, how do you look after yourself and what support do you get?

A. I have a good support network of friends and family I can call on if needs be. Some managers are great at ensuring you are ok after the bad jobs, it can hit you a few days or weeks after, yet you know that someone always has your back

Q. What has it been like working through the pandemic?

A. I take every day as it comes, it is what it is. If certain actions are needed to keep others and myself safe then I'll crack on and do it.

Q. Where do you see your career heading?

A. I’d like to hopefully become a paramedic.

Q. How do you feel about being part of the BBC Ambulance show?

A. It was a great opportunity. It was odd at first but that only lasted for five minutes, then our camera man became part of the crew and lived our working lives with us. I’m slightly apprehensive about appearing, but all the production crew have been great at keeping me informed with what's happening.

Q. What impact do you hope the series will have in the North East?

A. To show the rest of the country it's not all about Geordie Shore and Ant and Dec... there are lovely people here in a beautiful landscape.