What is a Paramedic?

A Paramedic is a person who has achieved a three year Bachelor’s degree and then demonstrated safe practice for at least two years.  They are true generalists, however traditionally have focused more on emergency medicine than any other part of healthcare.  Paramedics are no longer confined to working on ambulances.  They are to be found in all aspects of healthcare, from hospitals (e.g. A&Es, intensive care units, cardiac care units) through urgent treatment centres, the 111 service, prisons to working in primary care or general practice.

Are there different grades of Paramedics?

There are four grades of Paramedic:-

• starting with a Paramedic as above,
• who after at least five years of training and practice can apply to start training for the role of Specialist Paramedic - training that takes another two years at post graduate level.
• Once qualified as a specialist, the Paramedic can work for at least two more years consolidating practice and then apply to start training for the role of Advanced Paramedic at Master’s degree level. This training and associated practice takes four to six years.
• Finally after at least two years qualified at advanced level, the Paramedic can become a Consultant Paramedic and will usually be working towards a degree at Doctorate level.

What exactly is a Consultant Paramedic?

A Consultant Paramedic will have at least 15 years plus of experience and training across many sectors of healthcare, but will have specialised in usually one area, for example, Critical Care, Cardiac Care, Emergency Care, Primary Care / General Practice.  They will lead teams of different professions (nurses, Paramedics, physiotherapists, biomedical scientists, occupational therapists, etc.) and follow the five pillars if consultant level practice, namely:-

• Clinical Practice, - clinically working at the very top of their profession;
• Leadership, - leading teams of both clinicians and non-clinicians in collaborative practice;
• Education, - supporting learners at all levels of study;
• Research, - developing new and innovative solutions to current healthcare needs;
• Consultancy, - providing support to all parts of the healthcare system and people working within it.

Who is Alex Walter?

Alex is a Consultant Paramedic with over 25 years of clinical experience, across emergency, urgent and primary care.  He has attended seven universities, is currently working with his eighth and soon hopes to start with his ninth!  He has led teams of clinicians across many sectors of the NHS and has spent nearly the whole of the last decade working in general practice.  He is approved by NHS England to supervise student Nurses, student Paramedics (at all four of the above grades,) as well as support medical students and trainee GPs (known as GP Registrars.)

He will see:- -

• any patient with any issue,
• can assess, diagnose and treat as needed,
• including prescribing medications where appropriate or
• referring for further tests and investigations such as blood tests and x-rays as well as
• referring to hospital specialists where necessary.
• He works very closely with the GPs and seeks their guidance and support when necessary and
• often leads on training sessions to help develop practice.
• He sits on the national committee for The College of Paramedics’ urgent and primary care group,
• is an examiner for their Diploma and contributes to the writing of the exam papers used.

He was one of the first British Paramedics to pursue specialist, then advanced level practice and became the first Consultant Paramedic in General Practice in the UK.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honours, a graduate certificate, a post graduate certificate and a Master’s degree as well as many other teaching, clinical and mentoring awards.  He has been at the forefront of his profession and strives to achieve the greatest of patient satisfaction by placing his patients at the centre of everything he does.  He especially enjoys working with children and young people as well as with the older population.