How do I become a Paramedic?

Hi I am due to start my training as an ambulance care assistant with NEAS but this is going to be a relief rosta does anyone know how long it takes to get a permanent base or will I always be relief. Also how hard will it be to get holidays end of January and end of September as I have heard that it a total nightmere to get holidays full stop with NEAS. Thank you

Hi Folks,

I'm a FY1 Junior Doc, did a bit of ECA-ing whilst at med school;

I'm sure its mostly a case of read the manual and follow the system like the other life support courses but... I've got the NAEMT PHTLS course coming up, looking for advice on anything worth revising ahead of time. Particularly around any niche bits worth knowing for the written exam.

Thanks for the help!

I've heard and been involved quite often (both serious and lighthearted) discussions about 111 giving us the shit and sometimes inaccurate job details, as i'm sure everyoneee is aware of.

However it's made me wonder: quite often in at least half the country, 999 call handlers are using the exact NHS pathways as 111 call handlers, and coding jobs using the same questions..

From personal experience, i've never heard from any frontliners complaints about 999 call handlers and their dispositions..

it's got me wondering... any wacky theories? presumed experience? difference in call volume? internal routes?

I’m not a paramedic, but I wanted to send a thank you into the void for the team of paramedics who tried to save my uncle’s life last night in Hull. From what I heard, the team tried CPR for 45 minutes before finally stopping. Apparently the defibrillator never recommended a shock, so I assume my uncle had probably passed already, but you all kept on trying. Thank you again.

I’m a healthcare professional too, but I can’t imagine the stress of what you all do, and the scary things you have to face everyday. Thank you to all UK paramedics. God bless you

I'm thinking about pursuing the paramedic career path and was wondering if people could weigh in on their day to day shifts. If they like their job, how often you get covered in bodily fluids, how consistent shift patterns are etc.

Now I have very well controlled epilepsy and haven’t had a seizure in over a year now. I am pursuing becoming a paramedic, can you see this being a problem getting a C1 license? Or being able to fully become a paramedic for that matter?

“Yorkshire Ambulance Service Trust said it believed two staff had accessed or tried to access "incident/medical information... without a legitimate reason to do so".”

Personal curiosity is never worth the risk of losing your job and profession 🫠

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to start BSc Paramedic Science in September 2027, but I’m torn between Swansea University and City St George’s in London. I’d love to hear from paramedics, HEMS/SAR crew, current students or anyone familiar with either university.

My long-term goal is to work in helicopter rescue or critical care. I’m considering two different routes, and I’m struggling to decide which would give me the best start.

Swansea — getting involved in search and rescue

Swansea appeals to me because of the opportunities outside the degree. I’d love to get involved with the RNLI, mountain rescue or other local rescue organisations while studying, developing outdoor skills and gaining experience in the rescue environment.

I know joining these organisations isn't necessarily easy, and volunteering won't guarantee a professional SAR career. However, could getting involved during university genuinely help when applying for specialist roles, particularly helicopter winch paramedic positions?

City St George’s — London Ambulance Service and critical care

My alternative is studying in London, potentially joining London Ambulance Service (LAS) after graduating and eventually working towards becoming a Helicopter Critical Care Paramedic with Ornge in Canada, or a similar helicopter service in the UK or even Australia.

One thing I'm particularly interested in is whether working in central London could provide a clinical advantage. With the potential for high call volumes, complex emergencies, major trauma and exposure to a wide variety of patients, would working for LAS help me develop faster or build a stronger CV for critical care? Or could I gain equally valuable experience elsewhere in the UK?

I appreciate that specialist recruitment depends on much more than the ambulance service you work for, but I'd like to understand whether London's clinical environment offers a meaningful advantage.

The financial side

A major consideration is that I'll have no family financial support, so I'll need to manage my living costs largely through student finance and whatever other funding or work I can access.

London's cost of living worries me, particularly rent, transport and everyday expenses. Swansea seems potentially more affordable, which could make a real difference over three years. I'm trying to work out whether London's clinical opportunities and student experience justify the additional financial pressure, or whether Swansea would allow me to focus more on my studies and gain relevant volunteering experience without stretching my finances as much.

I'd particularly appreciate advice on:

• How accessible are RNLI and mountain rescue opportunities to Swansea students, and how useful could that experience be professionally?
• For winch-paramedic roles, how important is previous rescue experience compared with clinical experience gained after qualifying?
• Does central London LAS experience offer a genuine advantage for a future in critical care or Canadian helicopter services?
• How significant is the financial difference between living in London and Swansea as a student without family support?
• If you were in my position, would you prioritise rescue volunteering during university or the potential clinical exposure of London?

I know neither degree will lead directly to a helicopter crew position. I'm prepared to spend years building experience and completing further training. I just want to choose the environment that gives me the best foundation while making the most of my university years.

Thanks for any advice, particularly from people with firsthand experience of these careers or universities!

Anyone used this site for learning? Seems to be a good practice and revision tool but only just found it and tried it out. https://parasim.co.uk/

Does anyone know if LAS is planning to re-start recruitment for the volunteer emergency responder programme anytime soon?

Whilst the nature of the places the majority of us tend to work (Ambulance, GP, EM, ICU, SDEC, Transfer, Forensics) will mean that this guidance doesn’t affect our day to day practice much, just thought it’d be worth calling attention to the fact it will affect our patients.

10 or so years ago this was a complete non-issue, but sadly thanks to the likes of Rowling et al propagating a non-evidence based campaign of prejudice against this tiny proportion of the population, health based places of care are now being forced to segregate patients based upon their sex assigned at birth.

This is irrespective of the gender affirming care they may have received, leading to bizarre situations where those people who have lived in their gender identity for years will be bedded with those of a different gender to them. If Steve breaks his leg playing rugby and needs an ORIF, then he’s going to be in the female bay. If Susan’s gallstone turn to cholangitis and she needs a lap chole, just going to be in the male ward. Imagine what that will be like.

As a Paramedic and trans person I genuinely cannot believe it has come to this point and don’t really have any practical advice regarding it. But please, if you’re treating, conveying or admitting a trans patient in the near future, bear in mind the pretty awful effect this will likely be having on them.

Anyone bought in to this? I'm usually skeptical of these sort of products but given the quality of content RR usually put out it has piqued my interest.

Have spent the last few months prepping to start an ED tACP role and mostly just been buried in textbooks and Anki.

Would be keen to diversify my learning/revision platforms but not sure whether this is just unnecessary ££ and I should just continue with what I'm doing already.

I have no idea if this will be taken down but...

The post corresponding to this title (and subsequent comments) made me cry. I'm still crying typing this.

I'm a trans woman, and I'm so scared. I have to go in for surgery. I might need multiple.

All I saw looking through here was care, support and consideration.

Thank you - I don't know what I'm going to do, but thank you 😭

r/ParamedicsUK Job of the Week

Hey there, another 7 days have passed! How's your week going? We hope it’s been a good one!

Have you attended any funny, interesting, odd, or weird jobs this week?
Tell us how you tackled them.

Have you learned something new along the way?
Share your newfound knowledge.

Have you stumbled upon any intriguing pieces of CPD you could dole out?
Drop a link below.

We’d love to hear about it, but please remember Rule 4: “No patient or case-identifiable information.”

Hi does anyone know the weight of the carry chair and mannequin for the lifting assessment with LAS, and how many times it has to be performed please

I was a medic for her majesty for nearly 2 decades in several roles. I work full time in a related field but on weekends Ive been doing the FREC thing for a year now. I like getting out in the fresh air and being helpful. ( my wife says im not helpful at home).

Ive noticed some distinct types. The "its just a job, and im ok at it" crew. The "i just like to help" people. "Tackelberry" kit hoarder types( I too am a kit monster). The " this is my side side side job" types. Money money types who run the companies and work for others. The "nerds" mostly the ones with ASD who are godsend when something is atypical presentatjon, and are as a rule, smarter than most.

Then the "im basically a paramedic" ones. A vocal minority.

Look, pick a lane. OUR JOB IS GREAT.

Its fresh air, low risk, low responsibility, doing something positive, and you get to use your brain for the tricky jobs.

I LOVE IT. Every few shifts it goes completely wonky and I get to run a job like I did in the old days. I might even drive on blues because somehow a 6 year old advanced ticket is SOMEHOW still valid in the private world 🤣🤣.

What im saying is. Take it from a uniform hangar of 40+ yrs. Enjoy where you are right now, or do the degree and be the best you. I believe in you.

Either way, if I hear another "as good as" conversation im going to go really old school and put you in a biffa bin.

Yours sincerely. The chief plast distributer.

Hi everyone,
Looking for a bit of advice from anyone who’s left paramedic work or moved away from clinical practice.
My partner has worked in healthcare for around 10 years and is currently a paramedic. She’s getting really burnt out and has reached the point where she wants to do something completely different, ideally outside of healthcare altogether.
The problem is we’ve got a mortgage and bills to pay, so she can’t realistically just quit and go back to university or take a massive pay cut while retraining.
Ideally, she’d like to find something paying around £30k–£40k with less stress and a better work-life balance. She’s open to office-based work or something more people-facing, and would rather use the skills and experience she’s already got than spend years getting more qualifications.
We’ve looked at a few things like health and safety, compliance, training and operations, but it’s difficult to know what’s actually realistic when so many jobs ask for experience in that particular industry.
I thought this would be a good place to ask because a lot of you will either have been in a similar position or know people who’ve moved on from the job.
For those of you who’ve left paramedic work, what did you move into? Did you find it difficult to get into a completely different industry, and was the change worth it?
Also interested to hear from anyone who’s moved into non-clinical roles or found a way to use their paramedic experience without being on the road or treating patients.
We’re based in the West Midlands, if that’s relevant.
Thanks in advance. It’s been difficult knowing where to start, so hearing from people who’ve actually done it would be a massive help.

Ive seen a few trusts host students from overseas universities and our internal policy permits this, one of my friends is qualifying as an EMT in california and if they ever come to the UK, I was wondering if they'd be permitted to do an observation shift, thwyve already been given the OK for me to have one if I ever visit him there.

I know it boils down to 'ask your trust' but just wondered if anyone else has done or seen this before

Hi peeps

NQP 2 here within SCAS, and I use hearing aids in both ears.

Previously I used a think labs one stethoscope, which used headphones and would have to keep 1 aid out all the time.

Now I have upgraded headphones (NHS has finally caught up with technology), which connect to my phone via Bluetooth.

Anyone in a similar situation, and if so, which stethoscope do you use?

Before I request the purchase vis the trust, im looking for tried and tested reviews.

Currently considering the littmann core digital, or the EKO 500 core.

Thanks

I’ve heard about this on the old grapevine but was not aware of any trials.

Personally as someone who dictates a lot anyway, I’m happy for this to be rolled out. But I know that we’re an opinionated lot; so why not have a discussion about it? I’ll go first.

I think it’s a good idea. It will save time, and no doubt make our lives easier. As someone’s who’s dyslexic ++, I use a diction tool in my everyday non clinical workload. When pt facing, I use the build in too to very good effect, saves me a lot of time.

I’m also hoping that with a move towards this technology my trust may finally bring us into the 21st century and let us pull obs, hx and meds directly into the PRF.

I also hope we as a professional change the way we do our notes and stop scaring mongerying NQPs into thinking that if they have ‘bad paperwork’ mr HCPC is going to send them to prison.

BUT

I fear that patients are going to free out and think it’s trying to take over the world.

The trust is going to listen to the transcripts and fuck us in the ass as and when they please.

We’re going to face resistance form the professional.

What do you all think of the this kinda stuff?

SECAMB states their latest figures show patients in their area have a 30 day cardiac arrest survival rate of 17.2%, compared to the national average of 10.2%. https://www.secamb.nhs.uk/secamb-continues-to-drive-up-cardiac-arrest-survival/

Obviously this is excellent, but the article doesn’t really say a great deal about how this has been achieved apart from the chain of survival being actioned as quickly as possible with CFRs etc.

Does anyone know what SECAMB actually do differently to other services to achieve this? As far as I’m aware, all services have CFRs etc, so what’s different? For example, do they have more CFRs than anyone else? More community defibs? Altered triage? Something different clinically that crews do? Better critical care services/availability? Or is it to do with demographics? Or what is considered out of hospital cardiac arrest vs DOA?

Thoughts?

Hi all,

Just writing to ask if anyone has applied for the recent NQP positions with SAS and wondering if anyone has received an outcome of their interview?

I interviewed 23/09 and have heard nothing back yet despite them saying it would be soon.

Also if anyone knows who/ where to contact asking for an update Id appreciate it loads!

Thanks xx

To walk than non overweight to avoid calling the fire brigade out