Paramedic Sells Ice Cream for Mental Health Balance

James Shemmeld, a 46-year-old paramedic, has discovered a unique way to achieve balance in his life by combining his demanding medical career with selling ice cream. This unusual dual occupation helps him manage the significant mental health toll of his work, particularly after witnessing patient deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic.

His ambulance company, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, provided vital services. However, the emotional weight of his daily work led him to seek a healthier distraction. Encouraged by his wife, Shemmeld purchased an ice cream van, a venture that initially surprised her.

He has since expanded his ice cream business, now owning four vans that serve customers in Newcastle and at events across the country. Shemmeld finds the ice cream selling experience to be 'magical,' offering a simple, engaging interaction with customers that contrasts sharply with his medical responsibilities.

Despite the apparent differences, Shemmeld notes a similarity in approach: drawing people in with a familiar call. He continues to perform medical repatriations and has hired drivers for his ice cream firm, which operates seven days a week, demonstrating his commitment to both of his fulfilling careers.