Emergency care assistant

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An emergency care assistant is a type of emergency medical service worker in the United Kingdom, often used to support paramedics in responding to emergency calls. [1]

Contents

This frontline staff role was introduced in 2006 as part of the modernisation of NHS emergency ambulances and also to lower costs. By 2011 there were 2000 people working as ECAs in the United Kingdom. [2] The role has varied scope across the country, as it is defined by the local ambulance service policy, although the role primarily involves assisting ambulance clinicians. ECAs are typically trained with emergency driving skills. [1] They may carry out basic diagnostic procedures under the direct supervision of a paramedic. [3] The College of Paramedics does not expect ECAs to be required to make complex clinical decisions. [4]

Implementation

Each regional ambulance service determines its own criteria around what is needed to become an ECA. [3] They are amongst the lowest paid front line staff in the NHS, typically being paid at AfC band 3 or 4. [5]

Ambulance crew unions and a range of healthcare professionals have expressed reservations about having ambulance services employ a large number of ECAs, both before and after the change. [6] [7] [8] Unions representing ambulance workers had fears that the workforce changes could lead to an increase in the risk to patients as well as adding to the workload of paramedics [9] [10] [11] and had written to East Midlands Ambulance Service to ask for the reintroduction of the technician role. [12]

Another issue is the amount of driving an ECA has to do during a 12-hour shift, as driving time regulations do not apply to emergency services. Whilst either of the crew members may drive when responding to an emergency case, the paramedic is more likely to attend a patient during an emergency transport, meaning that the ECA is likely to do more driving.

In December 2014, after a steep rise in the number of paramedics on long term sick leave suffering stress, Yorkshire Ambulance Service said they would be bringing back the technician role. [13]

Career development

There is a route for some ECAs to progress to Technician level. A training programme is run by the East of England Ambulance NHS Trust (EEAST) which aims to help ECAs progress to technician within 1 year of their basic training; by November 2015, most ECAs working for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) have made the transition from ECA to Technician on this programme. [14]

ECAs who wish to progress to become a paramedic will need to complete a University degree, [15] Some employers do provide structured training to support this, with an expectation that it would take at least two and a half years for an ECA to complete this on a part-time basis. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramedic</span> Healthcare professional who works in emergency medical situations

A paramedic is a healthcare professional trained in the medical model, whose main role has historically been to respond to emergency calls for medical help outside of a hospital. Paramedics work as part of the emergency medical services (EMS), most often in ambulances. They also have roles in emergency medicine, primary care, transfer medicine and remote/offshore medicine. The scope of practice of a paramedic varies between countries, but generally includes autonomous decision making around the emergency care of patients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Ambulance Service</span> Ambulance service in London

The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS) is an NHS trust responsible for operating ambulances and answering and responding to urgent and emergency medical situations within the London region of England. The service responds to 999 phone calls across the region, and 111 phone calls from certain parts, providing triage and advice to enable an appropriate level of response.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Ireland Ambulance Service</span> Ambulance service that serves the whole of Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is an ambulance service that serves the whole of Northern Ireland, approximately 1.9 million people. As with other ambulance services in the United Kingdom, it does not charge its patients directly for its services, but instead receives funding through general taxation. It responds to medical emergencies in Northern Ireland with the 300-plus ambulance vehicles at its disposal. Its fleet includes mini-buses, ambulance officers' cars, support vehicles, RRVs and accident and emergency ambulances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Ambulance Service</span> Scotlands public ambulance services

The Scottish Ambulance Service is part of NHS Scotland, which serves all of Scotland's population. The Scottish Ambulance Service is governed by a special health board and is funded directly by the Health and Social Care Directorates of the Scottish Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh Ambulance Service</span> NHS trust and ambulance service in Wales

The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust is the national ambulance service for Wales. It was established on 1 April 1998 and as of December 2018 has 3,400 staff providing ambulance and related services to the 3 million residents of Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South East Coast Ambulance Service</span> Provider of ambulance services for south-eastern England

The South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is the NHS ambulance services trust for south-eastern England, covering Kent, Surrey, West Sussex and East Sussex. It also covers a part of north-eastern Hampshire around Aldershot, Farnborough, Fleet and Yateley. The service was made an NHS foundation trust on 1 March 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John Ambulance (England)</span> First aid organisation based in England

St John Ambulance is a volunteer-led, charitable non-governmental organisation dedicated to the teaching and practice of first aid and the support of the national emergency response system in England. Along with St John Ambulance Cymru, St John Ambulance Northern Ireland, and St John Scotland, it is one of four United Kingdom affiliates of the international St John Ambulance movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North West Ambulance Service</span> Ambulance service for North West England

The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) is the ambulance service for North West England. It is one of ten ambulance trusts providing England with Emergency medical services, and is part of the National Health Service, receiving direct government funding for its role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Western Ambulance Service</span> UK ambulance service

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is the organisation responsible for providing ambulance services for the National Health Service (NHS) across South West England. It serves the council areas of Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Plymouth, Isles of Scilly, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Torbay and Wiltshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yorkshire Ambulance Service</span> UK public sector provider of ambulance services in Yorkshire, England (2006- )

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS) is the NHS ambulance service covering most of Yorkshire in England. It is one of ten NHS Ambulance Trusts providing England with emergency medical services as part of the National Health Service it receives direct government funding for its role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Central Ambulance Service</span> Regional ambulance service in England

The South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is the ambulance service for the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and most of Hampshire. It is a foundation trust of the National Health Service, and one of ten NHS ambulance trusts in England. As of August 2022, SCAS is currently rated Inadequate by the CQC following multiple failings within the trust. SCAS is the only Ambulance Service in England to have received this rating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East of England Ambulance Service</span> Ambulance service in England

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) is an NHS trust responsible for providing National Health Service (NHS) ambulance services in the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, in the East of England region. These consist of approximately 6.2 million people across an area of 7,500 square miles (19,000 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Western Ambulance Service</span> Former NHS emergency services trust.

The Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust (GWAS) was a National Health Service (NHS) trust which provided emergency and non-emergency patient transport services to Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, in South West England. It was formed on 1 April 2006 by the merger of the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire ambulance services. The ambulance service was acquired by neighbouring Foundation Trust South Western Ambulance Service (SWASFT) on 1 February 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North East Ambulance Service</span> UK public sector ambulance service

The North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) is an NHS foundation trust responsible for providing NHS ambulance services in North East England. Headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne, NEAS provides emergency medical services to the metropolitan boroughs of Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and City of Sunderland; the ceremonial counties of County Durham and Northumberland; and the area of North Yorkshire commonly known as Teesside. NEAS was formed on 1 July 2006, following the merger of the existing North East Ambulance Service with the Tees division of the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (TENYAS). Northumbria Ambulance Service and County Durham Ambulance Service had previously merged on 1 April 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Midlands Ambulance Service</span> Ambulance trust in England

The West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust (WMAS) is responsible for providing NHS ambulance services within the West Midlands region of England. It is one of ten ambulance trusts providing England with emergency medical services, and is part of the National Health Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emergency medical services in the United Kingdom</span>

Emergency medical services in the United Kingdom provide emergency care to people with acute illness or injury and are predominantly provided free at the point of use by the four National Health Services (NHS) of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Emergency care including ambulance and emergency department treatment is only free to UK residents and a charge may be made to those not entitled to free NHS care.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emergency medical personnel in the United Kingdom</span> People engaged in the provision of emergency medical services

Emergency medical personnel in the United Kingdom are people engaged in the provision of emergency medical services. This includes paramedics, emergency medical technicians and emergency care assistants. 'Paramedic' is a protected title, strictly regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council, although there is tendency for the public to use this term when referring to any member of ambulance staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Midlands Ambulance Service</span> UK public sector ambulance service for the East Midlands region of England

The East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS) provides emergency medical services, urgent care and patient transport services for the 4.8 million people within the East Midlands region of the UK - covering Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. It was formed in 1999 by amalgamating several county ambulance services, and in July 2006 was dissolved and reformed under the same name as part of a nationwide reorganisation of ambulance service provision.

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) is a charity air ambulance service providing a free, life-saving Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the critically ill and injured of Essex, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.

The States of Jersey Ambulance Service (SJAS) is managed by the Justice and Home Affairs department.

References

  1. 1 2 "Careers in the ambulance service: Emergency care assistant". NHS Careers. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  2. ↑ Rainey, Sarah; Adams, Stephen (7 November 2011). "Emergency Care Assistants replace paramedics for 999 calls as cuts hit ambulance trusts". The Daily Telegraph . Telegraph Media Group. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Job profiles:Emergency care assistant". National Career Service (UK). Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Andalo, Debbie (20 February 2013). "How to get ahead in … the paramedic service". The Guardian . Guardian Media Group . Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "National profiles for ambulance services" (PDF). NHS Employers. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "Emergency cover changes confirmed". BBC News . BBC. 25 January 2005.
  7. ↑ "Ambulance crews' anger at changes". BBC News. BBC. 9 May 2007.
  8. ↑ Triggle, Nick (11 December 2007). "Ambulance shake-up 'poses risks'". BBC News. BBC.
  9. ↑ "Unison angry over training scheme". BBC News. BBC. 7 August 2008.
  10. ↑ "Volunteers relied on as 999 crews". BBC News. BBC. 9 November 2009.
  11. ↑ "Yorkshire Ambulance Service proposes workforce changes". BBC News. BBC. 7 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "East Midlands ambulance union criticises staff policy". BBC News. BBC. 19 March 2013.
  13. ↑ "Emergency cover changes confirmed". BBC News. BBC. 19 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Chelmsford lifesaver first in Mid-Essex to complete enhanced lifesaving skills course" (Press release). East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST). 25 November 2014. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "Become a paramedic". College of Paramedics . Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  16. ↑ "ECA To Paramedic Frequently asked Questions". East Midlands Ambulance Service. June 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
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