When it comes to NHS colleagues going over and above during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis Samways-Head is definitely on the list.

Lewis is not only a paramedic, working for South East Coast Ambulance Service, but he is also helping Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) with the vaccination programme, doing temporary, or Bank shifts.

Paramedic does extra shifts to help with vaccination programme: Lewis Samways-Head working at Tonbridge Cottage Hospital
Lewis Samways-Head

The 22-year-old said he wanted to do his bit in the fight against Coronavirus. He was also keen to work with KCHFT, having done Bank shifts for a year, back in 2017, at the trust’s Tonbridge Cottage Hospital, where he started off as a healthcare assistant and later became an associate practitioner on the therapy-led unit.

Lewis has spent the past three years studying, on a paramedic science degree course with Canterbury Christ Church University, at its Medway campus. He qualified back in April, in the midst of the pandemic.

He did his first shift at a KCHFT-run hub for health and social care staff in Aylesham, this week (Tuesday, 19 January) and is due to do a second shift at another site for health and social care colleagues, later this week.

He said: “After finishing my degree, I went straight into a full time job with the ambulance service. I’ve been treating patients who have COVID-19, so I’ve seen it first-hand.



“I believe vaccinating is our only way out of this and so I wanted to do my bit to help. The KCHFT Bank system offers two hour slots, so I can fit those in around my ambulance shift pattern.

“At Aylesham I did a lot of the consent work and looked after colleagues for the 15 minutes that they had to sit and wait afterwards. I am qualified to give the vaccine too. I’ll go wherever needed and do whatever is needed.”

The paramedic’s proud mum Anna Head, who is a PA to the deputy chief operating officer at KCHFT, said: “He had a positive first experience with the trust, so was happy to return to help out once again.” 

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