What is a Paramedic?

Traditionally they will be part of an ambulance crew working with either another paramedic, an emergency medical technician, or, more recently, an emergency care assistant. It is becoming increasingly common for Paramedics to work on their own in a fast response vehicle attending to patients before the arrival of an ambulance to convey the patient to hospital.

Are there different grades of ambulance staff?

Yes – in short lots!
• Emergency Care assistant – trained to drive under emergency conditions. Should usually be crewed with a paramedic on an ambulance (although some trusts will crew them with a technician depending on staff availability). They are training in basic patient assessment and taking of medical observations such as blood pressure, blood sugars, pulse and respiration rates, temperature and acquiring ecgs. They are also trained to assist paramedics in more advanced techniques such as intravenous canulation and endotrachael intubation. Typically an ECA will complete a 3-4 week clinical training course followed by a 3 week advanced driving course.

• Ambulance Technician – In some areas known as EMTs (emergency medical technicians) as with ECAs Technicians are trained in emergency driving and assisting the Paramedic. Technicians are also able to work in their own right, sometimes making up an ambulance crew with another technician, sometimes with a paramedic, in some areas technicians will work with ECAs or alone on response cars.
  • Typically a technician will have completed an 8-10 week clinical training course, followed by a 3 week advanced driving course. Once they have finished their in-house training they will work as a trainee for a full year and during this time they will work in a supervised capacity, only working with qualified members of staff. They will have regular assessments with a mentor at 3months, 6months, 9months and a final assessment at 12 months.

  • The skills of Technicians do vary slightly from service to service, but in most areas they are able to compete basic observations as would an ECA, aquire and interpret 12 lead ecgs (basic rhythms), and administer some drugs through Intra-muscular, nebulised and oral routes.

• Paramedic – Traditionally a Paramedic would have worked for a minimum of 2 years as a Technician before undertaking Paramedic training, but it is now possible to do a university degree in Paramedic Science, leading to a paramedic qualification. The details of the courses and how much time is spent in university studying as opposed to on the road observing/working with ambulance crews varies from course to course. Paramedics have a wide range of skills available to them including advanced airway management techniques and the ability to give a wider range of drugs through a wider range of routes. Some elements of paramedic training is currently undertaken in hospital departments (such as A&Es, Operating Theatres, and CCUs)