The College of Paramedics welcomes the contents of the report published by Sir Bruce Keogh into emergency and unscheduled care, particularly because it recognises the important role that paramedics can play in keeping patients out of hospital and keeping them well.
A testament to the developments of paramedic practice and education, the report recognises that continued and further investment into education needs to be made in the nation’s paramedics. Paramedics with advance decision making skills – such as specialist paramedics in urgent and primary care, have been developed by the profession in partnership with innovative ambulance trusts to help meet the needs of patients in the community – assessing, treating and referring in a patient’s home, working closely with GPs to keep patients out of hospital
Prof Andy Newton, chair of the College of Paramedics said:
“I have personally participated in the review, working with Professor Keith Willett as part of the Clinical Group, and I am delighted that the valuable role that paramedics play in delivering excellent patient care is well understood and now publicly recognised. The review understands that in order to keep patients out of A&Es, out of hospital and at home in good health, paramedics have a key role to play.
“In the same way that paramedics can and do support transfer over long distances to heart attack, stroke and trauma units, specialist ‘community and primary care’ paramedics have proven their excellence in treating people at home in the community. And for the most complicated, life-threatening cases, Critical Care Paramedics have demonstrated how they can ensure that even the most unwell and injured can be saved.
“Getting patients to the right care at the right time, may include treating patients at home.”
But the report raises some serious issues, says Dave Hodge, chief executive of the College of Paramedics:
“When members of the public dial 999, they need to know they’re going to get a paramedic; but with the ever increasing demand on the 999 ambulance services, however there is significant variability in the availability of paramedics across the country. Sir Bruce acknowledges this in his report and the College wants to see continued investment in the education and development of paramedics.”
The College is clear in its position that there is a need to ensure continued investment in the workforce planning, investment into specialist and advance paramedics – like paramedic practitioners and critical care paramedics, to ensure that there enough available for now and for the future. The College looks forward to working with NHS England and Health Education England to make this a reality.
Professor Newton said:
“The paramedic profession has developed enormously since Professor Douglas Chamberlain, a cardiologist from Brighton, and others envisaged the role in our society in the late 1970s.
“Key roles, like that of the specialist paramedic roles in urgent care, now urgently need support with further investment and critically the development of prescribing for paramedics, another key area highlighted in this NHS England report.”
Though the paramedic profession is only relatively small, and the ambulance services account for around only 1% of the annual NHS budget, the College is resolute in its position, something now backed-up by the Keogh report – invest in paramedics to not only ensure patient safety and high quality clinical outcomes – but do this and reduce the demand on A&Es too.
