College of Paramedics

College of Paramedics
Founded 2001
Key people

Past President: Roland Furber (deceased)
Chair: Prof. Andy Newton QAM, PhD

Vice-Chair: John Martin
Office location

The Exchange,
Express Park,
Bristol Road,
Bridgwater.
TA6 4RR

UK
Country United Kingdom
Website www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk

The College of Paramedics, formerly the British Paramedic Association,[1] is the independent professional body for paramedics in the United Kingdom.[2][3] The role of the College is to promote and develop the Paramedic profession across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The College represents the Paramedic profession across key organisations such as the UK regulator - Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC),[4] the Department of Health and the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC).[5]

History

Paramedicine in the UK began with regional schemes in the 1970s and the introduction of a national course in 1985 for ‘extended care ambulance staff.’ The statutory regulator, the Health Professions Council (HPC) - now Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) was formed in 2001, and as part of its remit is required to liaise with professional bodies representing each of the professions for whom it is responsible.

Paramedics were the only professional group in the initial registration to not have representation by a central body. Two members of staff from the then Essex Ambulance Service established a professional association to represent the paramedic profession and undertake the self-regulation of paramedic standards and education required by the HPC. The name of 'British Paramedic Association' (BPA) was agreed at an inaugural meeting held at AMBEX in 2001.[6]

In 2009 its name was changed to the College of Paramedics. This reflected the associations ambitions to be not only the professional voice of pre-hospital ambulance clinicians, but as the driving authority for increasing sections of pre-hospital clinical care education, training, proficiency and continuous professional development.

College Structure

The College of Paramedics is structured around a membership elected Governing Council of peers, supported by a Council appointed Executive. To act as a conduit for information, regional groups were developed to support members, governed by the Regional Council member.

Governing Council

Nation/Region Member Alternate Member/s
Northern Ireland Andy McFarlane Ciaran McKenna
Scotland Dahrlene Tough Neil Sinclair*/Isobel Donaldson
North East Paul Younger Graham McClelland*
North West Jason Comber Glenys Harley
Yorkshire Liz Harris Shaun Knott
East Midlands Dave Roberts Steve Porter
West Midlands Andy Proctor Simon Greenfield
East of England Tracy Nicholls Ashley Richardson
South Central Ursula Rolfe Ken Street
London Will Broughton* Martin Berry
South East Coast Florian Breitenbach Vacancy
Great Western Jim Petter William Lee
South West Kris Lethbridge Richard Steggall
Independent David Reed Vacancy
Military Kevin Swift Kevin McClean
Student Liam Webb Kate Jackson
* = casual appointment

Executive Team

Role Incumbent
Chief Executive Officer David Hodge
Chair of Council Prof. Andy Newton
Vice-Chair of Council John Martin
Executive Director of Communications Richard Webber
Executive Director of Professional Standards Graham Harris
Executive Director of Membership Services Andy Sharman
Executive Officer Martin Berry
Assistant Director of Professional Standards Lizi Hickson
Professional Advisor Prof. Barry Hunt

Membership

There are three levels of membership available within the College of Paramedics:

Post-Numeral and Fellowships

The College of Paramedics authorises the use of the following post-nominals by members:

Member Training

Whilst the College has organised many educational events in the past, it launched its first full programme of continuing professional development events in 2011. These events are held throughout the UK and assist its members to maintain and develop their professional skills and knowledge.

The College is currently working closely with a number of stakeholders, including Health Education England, to provide a framework for the development of the profession, including post graduate specialist and advanced practice; there is a pilot specialist practice in primary care joint examination with the Royal College of General Practitioners. There is currently work ongoing to examine the possibility of Independent Prescribing for paramedics within England with NHS England.

Publications

The College is currently reviewing its status, communications channels and publications, and will be updated on this page shortly.

A list of documents is below;

The College of Paramedics are active participants of a range of groups, including the Joint Royal College Ambulance Liaison Committee and the AACE Clinical Practice Guidelines (http://aace.org.uk/clinical-practice-guidelines/). The College is also a member of the Royal College of Physicians hosted Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party and Guidelines Development Group, leading the pre-hospital guidelines development sub-group. The College has been the key partner in the development of the Professional Guidance on the Content of Ambulance Clinical Records (http://www.england.nhs.uk/2014/12/18/ambulance-recs/)

Representation

The College’s Council members attend many national meetings and groups each year to represent the views and interests of the Paramedic Profession. The following is an indication of the breadth of the work of the College on behalf of its members in particular and the profession in general.

Higher Education Ambulance Development Group (HEADG)

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Web Links for Paramedic Studies". Liverpool John Moores University.
  2. ↑ "Allied health profession disciplines". Department of Health.
  3. ↑ "The Need for a Professional Body for UK Paramedics" (PDF). Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care 4 (1). 2006.
  4. ↑ "About Registration - Professions - Paramedic". Health Professions Council.
  5. ↑ "Main Committee Members". Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee.
  6. ↑ British Paramedic Association http://www.britishparamedic.org/aboutbpa/
  7. ↑ Curriculum Framework http://teaching.shu.ac.uk/hwb/paramedic/mentors/pdf/BPA_Curriculum.pdf
  8. ↑ Intubation Position Statement http://www.jrcalc.org.uk/intubation_paper_v4.pdf
  9. ↑ https://www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk/downloads/250811_-_Administration_of_drugs_by_paramedics_and_student_paramedics_MC.pdf
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