Q&A with the London Ambulance Service

Q. How do you feel paramedic practice has evolved over the last 10 years?

A. I think it's evolved from being a very ambulance-centric activity. Now in 2018, we've got paramedics in urgent care centres, GP surgeries, cruise ships, leisure parks. The drug therapy range has extended, the autonomy that paramedics have to make decisions based on what's in front of them has extended, and giving paramedics additional training in the area of urgent care is another area which is currently extended. We are moving away from the jack of all trades and master of none, and I think the profession seems to be diversifying in a way that people are becoming specialists in their areas of interest and taking their level of education in that particular area further.

Q. What have been the major developments in training and education?

A. The major change has been a shifting emphasis from the vocational route to the higher education route. It gives people the opportunity who didn't do a higher education course, to progress along a series of modules to help them gain a BSc, and to join the higher echelons of the profession in research or leadership, educational and clinical.