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ServicesAccident & Emergency ServicesCrewsThe nature of work undertaken by staff in the Ambulance Service depends on the level of their skills. There are four grades of operational ambulance staff. Technicians work alongside Paramedics within the Trust's accident and emergency service. They respond to 999 and urgent calls and make decisions on the treatment and transportation of ill and injured patients. Their work involves a wide range of skills including resuscitation, oxygen and some drug therapy, fracture splintage, wound dressing and pain relief. Paramedic All Paramedics are required to be registered with the Health Professions Council. Paramedics are trained to use advanced life support techniques and can administer a wide range of drugs for medical and trauma conditions. In order for them to maintain their qualification they must update their skills regularly and prove their competence through examination. The type of work undertaken by both Technicians and Paramedics is varied and demanding. Ambulance crews rarely know in advance the severity of the emergency to which they are responding; it can range from a relatively minor illness or injury, to a road accident involving seriously injured casualties. Both Paramedics and Technicians are trained in advanced driving skills to enable them to reach the scene of an emergency as quickly and safely as possible. Emergency Care Practitioner Emergency Care Practitioners (ECPs) are Paramedics, nurses or other health professionals with additional training in injury assessment, diagnostic skills and advanced wound care. ECPs are based in the community and provide on the spot emergency treatment to patients, helping to relieve pressures on the emergency ambulance service and dealing with patients more effectively in their own home without transporting them to accident and emergency departments. Paramedics may become ECPs following either satisfactory completion of a local Trust course plus a period of consolidation, or sucessful completion of a BSc (Hons) in Emergency Care. Clinical Supervisor Clinical supervisors provide clinical supervision to Paramedics and Technicians, and are the Trust's first line operational managers. |
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Trust Headquarters,
Unit
3 Abbey Court,
Sowton Industrial Estate,
Exeter, EX2 7HY, Tel: 01392 261500,
Fax: 01392 261510, Email: publicrelations@swast.nhs.uk |
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Ambulance
Technician