Pioneering retrieval of neonates as a paramedic

As paramedic practice evolves, a new and exhilarating role is being piloted in the South West of England. I—along with one other colleague—am the first to embark on a training programme as an advanced paramedic practitioner (APP) specialising in neonatal intensive care retrieval medicine in the UK. This novel development has paramedics stepping into the world of retrieval medicine, focusing on delivering critical care to some of our sickest neonates in the region. The Newborn Emergency Stabilisation and Transport Team (NEST) comprises a multidisciplinary retrieval team of nurses, allied health professionals and doctors, stabilising and transporting babies across tertiary and local neonatal units.

The role of the advanced paramedic involves making high-acuity decisions around the delivery of intensive care therapies, undertaking independent and team-based uplifts of care and developing a vast range of extended skills. However, our role is not purely focused on clinical work; we also undertake educational, research, developmental and leadership-based activities in order to fulfil the expectations of the ‘advanced paramedic’. I am proud to be able to share with you a glimpse into a day in the life of an APP in neonatal intensive care retrieval.