Ambulance Technician
What is the work like?
As an ambulance technician (or emergency medical technician), you would respond to accident and emergency calls, as well as a range of planned and unplanned non-emergency cases. You would work closely with a paramedic to assess, diagnose and treat patients at the scene and during the journey to hospital. You may use life saving skills as part of your day-to-day work.
When out on an emergency call, you may have little warning of the exact circumstances you are about to face. Situations could range from helping someone back into bed after a fall, to a major traffic collision with several casualties.
Once at the scene of an accident or emergency, your duties would include:
- assessing the patients needs and taking a basic personal and medical history
- carrying out a risk assessment, identifying life and non-life threatening conditions
- interpreting observations (weight, breathlessness, fatigue, oedema/fluid retention).
You would also decide which type of pre-hospital emergency care was most suitable and carry out certain treatments, for example:
- managing airways and supporting breathing
- controlling bleeding whilst maintaining circulation with cardio pulmonary resuscitation
- using semi-automatic defibrillators to steady irregular heart beats
- applying special splints and dressing wounds.
Your duties would also include making routine checks on your vehicle and cleaning, storing and checking ambulance equipment. Throughout the working day you would keep in regular contact with the emergency dispatch centre (also known as command and control).
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
There are 14 regional NHS ambulance services in the UK. Entry criteria can vary and with some services you may need previous experience as an ambulance care assistant (or emergency care assistant) before you can progress to trainee ambulance technician.
However, in general, to become a trainee technician you are likely to need:
- a good general standard of education – this may include between three and five GCSEs (A-C) in English, maths, biology
- experience of working in a customer care role (some services may want you to have experience of administering first aid or working in the health sector with people who are sick, vulnerable or disabled)
- excellent driving skills and a thorough knowledge of the highway code
- good fitness levels and good eyesight (prescription glasses are acceptable)
You will also need a full B and C1 category driving licence with no more than 3 penalty points. You may be accepted with a provisional C1 licence, but you will need a full licence before you start training. Some ambulance services may support you through this extra driving qualification, however, this is not standard practice. You must be at least age 18 to apply for a C1 licence.
For more information you should contact your local ambulance service, listed on the NHS Choices website.
Major work force review
The ambulance service are carrying out a major work force review and it is anticipated that fewer ambulance technicians will be recruited in the future. This role may be phased out altogether, and existing technicians may be given the chance to retrain as paramedics or emergency care assistants. Check with your local ambulance service for details of their recruitment policy.
What further training and development can I do?
As a trainee ambulance technician, you will have a period of intensive training which can take around 14 weeks and cover areas such as:
- advanced driving skills
- pre-hospital emergency care
- clinical procedures
- physiology and anatomy
- manual handling techniques
- procedures for patient transfer.
Your knowledge, skills and understanding will be tested throughout your training period.
When this initial stage of training is complete, you will move on to work under supervision with an experienced ambulance crew at an ambulance station. With around one year's experience in this role, you would take further exams that can lead to becoming a qualified technician.
As a qualified technician you would attend regular training sessions to help you keep your skills up to date. You would also be reassessed periodically.
Where can I go for more information?
28 Wilfred StreetDerby
DE23 8GF
Tel: 01332 746 356
Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655
3rd Floor
29 Bressenden Place
London
SW1E 5DD
Tel: 020 7074 3200
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
Ambulance technicians can earn between £17,300 and £20,800 a year.
Extra allowances (known as salary uplifts) may be paid to workers in certain geographical areas, and to those expected to be on standby, work unsocial hours or rotational shifts.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would typically work around 37.5 hours a week, including nights, weekends and bank holidays. Part-time hours may also be available once you have completed your training.
You would spend much of your time out on the road. When transferring patients, your work may involve heavy lifting, bending and carrying.
You would wear a uniform, including a bright jacket, protective boots and, in some services, a stab proof vest.
Resilience and sensitivity are essential in this job. On a typical emergency call you might attend to emotionally distressed patients in difficult situations. You could also face unpleasant tasks and verbal aggression from people under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- a genuine desire to help and care for others
- good spoken and written communication skills
- good listening skills
- attention to detail
- the ability to use computerised communication systems
- the ability to manage and respond to a changing workload
- good team working skills
- the ability to drive under emergency conditions
- good decision making skills
- the ability to remain calm under pressure
- an understanding of patient confidentiality
- an awareness of equality and diversity in the work place and surrounding community.
What opportunities are there?
You will find most jobs within the NHS, although you may be able to train and work in the armed forces or private ambulance services.
With at least one year's experience as a fully qualified technician you may be able to apply for a student paramedic post (check the Ambulance Paramedic job profile for details).
You could also find opportunities for secondment or promotion in the ambulance control room, in a training role, or in human resources.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
- NHS Jobs
- NHS Choices (for a list of local ambulance trusts).
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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