Advancing practice through the lens of patient care

Abstract

Just over a decade ago, when I first registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) (then the Health Professions Council), I did not picture a career outside of the back of an ambulance—unless I ceased to be a paramedic entirely. Yet, over the last 10 years, one of the main components that has catalysed the development of the profession is the idea that paramedics could capitalise their generalist unique selling point (USP) to work to an enhanced clinical level. The development of the paramedic profession itself is not new—we have continuously developed since our inception from working clinically within the constraints of providing life support under the supervision of cardiologists, to being autonomous clinicians in our own right. However, the progression to working within advanced practice has been something new—and I think we have the changing model of care delivery within the ambulance service to thank for this. Abstract published with permission.