Ambulance Paramedic
What is the work like?
Ambulance paramedics deal with medical emergencies, as well as complex non-emergency hospital admissions, discharges and transfers. They work as part of a rapid response unit, usually with support from an ambulance technician or emergency care assistant.
As a paramedic, you could face situations ranging from minor injuries to serious casualties in a major road or rail accident. Your primary goal would be to meet people's immediate needs for care or treatment.
When responding to a call, your work could include:
- assessing a patient's condition
- deciding on the appropriate course of action based on clinical need
- making quick decisions about moving the patient
- using advanced life support techniques, such as electric shocks (defibrillation) to resuscitate patients
- carrying out certain surgical procedures, such as intubation (inserting a breathing tube into the throat)
- using advanced airway devices to keep the airway open
- using intravenous fluid therapy and drug therapy
- administering medicines and giving injections
- dressing wounds and applying splints.
Your day-to-day duties would also include keeping accurate patient records and checking the efficiency of your vehicle and on-board equipment.
You could work on a traditional ambulance or another rapid response unit, such as a car or motorcycle. With experience you may work as part of a helicopter ambulance crew.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You need to be registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC) before you can work unsupervised as a paramedic. To get on to the register you need to complete:
- an HPC approved qualification
- a period of clinical training with an ambulance service.
You can qualify as a paramedic by taking a higher education qualification in paramedic science/care or by applying for a student or trainee paramedic post with an Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
To get on to an HPC approved foundation degree, Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) or degree (including clinical practice and work placements), you will usually need:
- five GCSEs (A-C) in English, maths and science
- between one and three A levels, including a life science or natural science.
Check with course providers (listed on the HPC website) for exact entry details because alternative qualifications, such as an Access to Higher Education course, may also be accepted.
Criteria will vary between ambulance services but, in general, to apply for a student paramedic job, you will need:
- a good standard of secondary education (as evidence of your ability to complete intensive paramedic training including a higher education qualification or Institute of Health Care Development (IHCD) award)
- experience of dealing with the public, ideally within a caring role (paid or voluntary)
- an understanding of the nature of ambulance work.
You may be at an advantage if you have a background in the ambulance service as an ambulance care assistant, technician or emergency care assistant. You could contact your local ambulance service (listed on the NHS Confederation website) for further advice.
General requirements
Whichever route you choose you will need to meet some basic conditions, including:
- 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.
You will also need CRB clearance.
What further training and development can I do?
If you decide to train to become a paramedic by taking a foundation degree, diploma or degree course, you will usually attend university full-time during the first year and one day a week for the following two or three years. You will also be attached to an ambulance service and work under supervision whilst earning a salary. Part-time courses are usually only available to practising paramedics who wish to achieve a higher education qualification.
As a student paramedic within an ambulance service, you will receive much of your training on the job but you will also work towards a qualification such as a foundation degree in paramedic science or an IHCD award. Your trainee period is likely to take around three years (during which you will earn a salary) and lead to registration with the HPC as a paramedic.
Once you are qualified and registered with the HPC, you will be expected to keep your skills and knowledge up to date throughout your career. The British Paramedic Association (BPA) has developed an online CPD (continuing professional development) scheme for its members, which satisfies the HPC requirements for registration renewal.
Where can I go for more information?
Tel: 08000 150850184 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU
Tel: 020 7582 0866
Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655
Derby
DE23 8GF
Tel: 01332 746 356
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?
- Student paramedics may start on around £20,000 a year.
- Qualified paramedics can earn around £26,500.
- Service managers can earn up to £38,000.
Additional allowances may be paid to staff in certain parts of the country, those working on standby or on rotational shift patterns.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
The emergency ambulance service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You would typically work 37.5 hours a week, including a rotation of night and weekend shifts and bank holidays. Part-time hours are often also available.
You would wear a uniform, which includes protective clothing such as a bright jacket, safety boots and, in some services, a stab proof vest. Your work may involve heavy lifting, when transferring patients.
You are likely to face some difficult situations as a paramedic, including emotionally distressed patients and 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
- an awareness of equality and diversity and the differing needs of people in the community
- good spoken and written communication skills
- the ability to deal with life and death situations and stay calm when under pressure
- practical skills and the ability carry out emergency treatment
- the ability to work well in a team, use your initiative and make decisions quickly
- leadership skills and a strong sense of responsibility
- the ability to manage, organise and respond to a changing workload
- physical and emotional stamina
- the ability to use communication and computerised systems
- a good understanding of patient confidentiality
- the ability to drive under emergency conditions.
What opportunities are there?
You will find most jobs within the NHS, although you could work in the armed forces or private ambulance services.
You will increasingly find opportunities within the community, for example with GPs and practice nurses, caring for patients in the surgery and visiting them at home. In some ambulance services you may be able to train as part of a helicopter ambulance crew, or work on car or motorcycle rapid response units.
With experience you could progress to emergency care practitioner (ECP). This involves using advanced skills in injury assessment, diagnosis and wound care to provide on the spot treatment in the community. As an ECP, you could work in a variety of settings such as the patients own home and minor injuries units. To apply you will usually need at least three years’ experience as a registered paramedic plus additional training, such as a BSc Hons in Emergency Care.
You could also find opportunities in operational management, education and training, research or human resources.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies: (links open in new window)
- NHS Jobs
- NHS Choices (for a list of local ambulance trusts).
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