Ambulance paramedic

Ambulance paramedics, usually working with emergency care assistants (ECAs), are the first healthcare professionals at the scene of an accident or medical emergency. They work with sophisticated life-support equipment. Having treated the patient at the scene, they take them quickly and safely to hospital. Paramedics have more advanced training than ECAs and lead the team.

Work activities

Ambulance paramedics are the most highly trained members of the ambulance team. They use sophisticated life-support equipment and to treat patients with drugs. Usually alongside emergency care assistants (ECAs), they are the first healthcare professionals at the scene of an accident or medical emergency. Ambulance teams are usually made up of paramedics and ECAs who drive to the scenes of accidents or emergencies, treat patients and take them to hospital. Paramedics might also work alone, travelling to emergencies in an emergency response vehicle. Apart from ambulances, paramedics can also reach their patients by using cars, motorcycles and air ambulances. They are trained in emergency driving, as well as in giving treatment.

Once at the scene, paramedics use sophisticated emergency equipment and techniques, such as heart defibrillators and intravenous drips. They may give oxygen and life-saving drugs and can also use rescue gear. They check patients’ conditions by using devices such as cardiac (heart) and blood pressure monitors. They have to calm and reassure patients and their relatives or carers. Having given treatment, they will get the patient to hospital quickly and safely. Apart from emergency work, paramedics and ECAs must check that the ambulance’s first aid and emergency equipment is in working order and maintain the stock of drugs. They must check the ambulance regularly to make sure that oil and water levels and tyre pressures are correct. Other duties include administrative tasks such as completing log sheets. Paramedics spend a lot of time in the ambulance or other vehicle, keeping radio contact with the control room.

Personal qualities and skills

To be an ambulance paramedic, you’ll need:

To be highly practical.
To enjoy working with people.
Strong communication skills.
The ability to act calmly and take the lead in an emergency.
A strong sense of responsibility for others.
Sympathy and tact to deal with patients and relatives in distress.
The ability to make quick, calm decisions.
Emotional strength to cope with distressing situations; you can’t be squeamish.
Common sense and initiative.

You must have a full manual driving licence. If you passed your driving test after 1996, you might need to take an extra driving qualification. To train as a paramedic, you must be able to cope with academic study, for example, of anatomy, physiology and drugs.

Pay and opportunities

Paramedics tend to start on band 5 of the Agenda for Change payscale, at £28,407, rising to band 6 after two years. Band 6 starts at £35,392. Pay rates are accurate as of January 2024.

Paramedics usually work 37.5 hours a week, which may include shifts, early starts, late finishes, weekend work and working on public holidays.

Most employment is with the NHS, working for one of the ambulance services. Other opportunities are in private ambulance services. Opportunities for paramedics occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on the NHS Jobs website, on job boards, on the Government’s Find a Job service, and in local newspapers.

Entry routes and training

To become a paramedic, you’ll need a degree in paramedic science. After completing your degree, you’ll need to apply to an ambulance service as a qualified paramedic and register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Alternatively, you could do a level 6 degree apprenticeship as a paramedic, studying for your degree as you train in the workplace.

You must also have a full manual driving licence plus two years’ driving experience.

With further training and qualifications, experienced paramedics could move into a role such as senior paramedic. This involves working in a setting such as a GP surgery, hospital accident and emergency department, minor injuries unit or a patient’s own home.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

To get onto a paramedic science degree course, you will need two or three A-levels, including a science subject, as well as GCSEs in English, maths and potentially other subjects too, which may include one or more of the sciences.

Alternatives to A levels include:

Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

To get onto a degree apprenticeship, you’ll need two relevant A-levels plus GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Relevant experience includes working with older people and people with disabilities, other work with the public and first aid experience. Experience within the ambulance service, for example, as a care assistant or emergency care assistant, is useful but not essential.

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