You don't usually expect to find paramedics in a GP surgery, but a new programme has seen student paramedics take up placements at practices in North Tyneside and Northumberland.
This comes as part of collaboration between Northumbria Primary Care - which operates nine GP practices across Northumberland and North Tyneside - and the University of Sunderland. NPC has introduced the paramedic role at its practices as part of its drive to ensure patients have access the right clinicians for their needs.
Paramedic students have undertaken placements at the Rothbury Practice in Northumberland and at the 49 Marine Avenue practice in Whitley Bay.
Across Northumbria Primary Care, paramedics run clinics, triage and manage minor illnesses and provide continuity for patients with complex health needs, among other responsibilities.
Phil Calcutt, a third year University of Sunderland paramedic student, spent a two-week placement at The Rothbury Practice.
He said: "When I started my course, I hadn’t really considered how my role would fit within the context of primary care. I think when most people think of paramedics they think of hospital and ambulances, not GP practices.
"Being able to work alongside the brilliant team at The Rothbury Practice was an amazing experience. Working in primary care wasn’t something I thought I’d be doing, but I learned so much during my placement. Being able to work alongside a wide range of clinicians and understand the patient journey has left a big impression on me. It’s been incredibly helpful to gain insight into the management of long-term conditions.”
Danielle Nimmo, a paramedic who works with Northumbria Primary Care, added: "When people think of a paramedic, they generally don’t think of their role in a GP surgery. However, paramedics have been an integral part of the primary care ecosystem for many years and we’re seeing this become more and more common up and down the country.
"We sit as part of a multi-professional team and are able to provide patients with another dimension of care. For many patients, we can address the health issues that they present with, meaning that GPs are able to focus on more complex and serious cases."
Paula Treadwell, senior lecturer at the University of Sunderland, said: "It’s important that we’re able to provide a wide range of experiences to our students. Working alongside Northumbria Primary Care has given us a brilliant opportunity to help educate our students on the different career paths available to them.
“We’ve received nothing but positive feedback from our paramedic placements at NPC and we hope to see some of our students pursue this route once they qualify.”
Helen Beaumont-Waters, head of clinical development the College of Paramedics, said: "Placements outside of the ambulance trusts allows students to see a different part of the patient journey and makes them a much more rounded paramedic upon registration.
“Being a paramedic is so much more than driving on blue lights and sirens, paramedics need to be prepared to deal with anything, in any setting, in any weather and with compassion, competence and professionalism, and this fantastic collaboration is supporting the next generation of our colleagues.”
READ NEXT
- Join ChronicleLive's WhatsApp community for breaking news and top stories
- Newcastle mental health wards 'not fit for purpose' warns regulator as NHS trust told it must improve
- Police reveal staggering 118 people arrested over Grand National protests by Animal Rising
- More than half of the British public support junior doctors going on strike, new poll suggests
- 'Heart hero' family back junior doctors strike action and pay tribute to medics who 'go above and beyond'
