IFH News

New paramedic training

LJMU is hoping to establish itself as a centre of excellence for professional education in pre-hospital care following the development of a new Paramedic Practice Suite and the launch of a new portfolio of programmes for paramedics and ambulance staff.

The new courses include a Foundation Degree in Paramedic Studies and post-registration professional development programmes for paramedics and other pre-hospital care staff. Both the courses and the Paramedic Practice Suite have been developed in close collaboration with NWAS, Acute Hospital Trusts and Primary Care Trusts.

The emphasis on pre-hospital care at LJMU reflects significant and ongoing changes in the ambulance service nationwide. Whereas traditionally the service focused on delivering lifesaving treatment to critically ill patients, today's ambulance staff are increasingly seen as key members of the primary care team, providing not just emergency care but diagnostic services and support for patients with long-term conditions.

As the mobile health resource for the NHS, the ambulance service will play a greater role in delivering care closer to home by providing an increasing range of assessment, treatment and diagnostic services. John Burnside, Chief Executive of NWAS, explained: "The Trust's strategic vision addresses the key drivers from Taking Healthcare to the Patient agenda and sets out a new approach to the delivery of the ambulance service. The vision aims to ensure that patients receive the most appropriate care, at the most appropriate time and in the most appropriate setting. This may be clinical advice over the telephone, taking the patient straight to hospital or treating patients in their home and referring them to alternative pathways of care. Whatever care package is provided it will be delivered by dedicated, highly trained staff.

"We're already investing in new call handling and clinical advice systems to improve our 999 response rates and despatch services. But we also need to invest in modernising the skills of our workforce too. That's why we are collaborating with Liverpool John Moores University to develop bespoke courses that will give our staff the knowledge and skills to deliver the right response to patients, first time, on time."

Shirley Congdon, LJMU's Director of Nursing and Primary Care Practice, said: "By working in collaboration with NWAS and our other partners, we can offer excellent educational opportunities for both existing ambulance staff and the employees of the future. By improving the clinical skills of its staff, we can help raise the standard of the ambulance service even further, which ultimately means a better service for patients."

The University's new Paramedic Practice Suite is equipped with ambulance-standard equipment such as immobilisation boards, resuscitators and life-size mannequins on which students can practice different emergency techniques under the direction of LJMU's expert pre-hospital care team.

During 2006, 80 qualified NWAS paramedics took part in a LJMU training programme to become mentors for the new foundation degree students. Having these mentors in place before the first 30 students started in September 2007 was crucial as students spend 50% of their time out on placement with these experienced paramedic practitioners. These placements take place in a range of emergency and non-emergency settings, such as A&E departments, front-line emergency ambulances, health centres, ambulance control centres, operating theatres and critical care facilities.

LJMU also offers post-registration professional development courses for existing practitioners. These include Emergency Care Practitioner and the Assess, Treat and Refer Practitioner programmes. Existing ambulance staff interested in becoming paramedics can also have their prior learning and experience accredited enabling them to enrol onto the second year of the Foundation Degree.

The University's dedicated Pre-Hospital Care Team manages this portfolio of courses. All of the team are registered paramedics, with many years experience as operational ambulance staff. They are also experienced in delivering traditional ambulance education. The team also includes Adult Life Support and Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support instructors. Dave Taylor, LJMU's Higher Education and Emergency Care Practitioner, said: "Our pre-hospital care courses are specifically designed to enable ambulance staff to possess a greater scope of practice incorporating the urgent care agenda. By working together we can help deliver their new vision for a new ambulance service."

Students who successfully complete the two year foundation degree programme will be eligible to apply for professional registration as a Paramedic Practitioners with the Health Professions Council.

Established in 2006, NWAS is the busiest service of the eleven English Ambulance Trusts, providing front-line pre-hospital emergency care to seven million people across Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

Pictures:

• Top - Student paramedics demonstrate resuscitation techniques in LJMU's new paramedic practice suite

• Bottom - The new Paramedic Practice Suite was officially opened by John Burnside, Chief Executive of the North West Ambulance Service