Senior paramedic
At least one million people that are currently taken to an emergency department every year, could be treated at the scene.
The role of senior paramedic utilises the skills of paramedics and other professionals (such as specialist nurses with additional skills) to support the first contact needs of patients in unscheduled care. They are employed primarily by ambulance service trusts.
Job role
A senior paramedic is a more advanced role to a paramedic and may have a range of job titles, including emergency care practitioner.
A senior paramedic is a specialist who is trained in the medical model of care to provide unscheduled/primary care to the public treating minor injuries & illness.
They also independently provide definitive care that does not require intervention of a GP/doctor.
A senior paramedic undertakes a range of activities including:
- carrying out and interpreting diagnostic tests
- undertaking basic procedures in the home
- undertake routine assessments of patients with long term conditions in their home. This helps people with such conditions to better manage their own health and avoid unnecessary visits to hospital
- having the ability to refer patients to social care services, and directly admit patients to specialist units
- prescribe a wider range of medications
More patients with urgent, but not life-threatening, conditions will be treated at home rather than being taken to hospital. This could benefit, for example, older people who have had a fall and suffered cuts, bruises or other minor injuries and would prefer not to leave their home for treatment.
Where senior paramedics work
A senior paramedic is typically based in GP surgeries, minor injuries units and hospital emergency departments. They may see patients in their own home.
Training
Staff who are employed as a senior paramedic will be experienced and qualified practitioners who have received additional training. This is usually provided in conjunction with a university/higher education institution and includes greater assessment and examination skills and more training for the treatment of minor injuries and illnesses.
A senior paramedic is also trained in the management of long-term conditions.
More information
Contact your local NHS ambulance service trust for more information. You could also contact your local university/HEI to enquire about course availability.
Applying for job vacancies
All ambulance service trusts in England and Wales advertise on the NHS Jobs website. You could also visit ambulance service trust websites directly and Jobcentre Plus.
Please visit the NHS Choices for details of ambulance service trusts and SHAs.
TOP