Founded 2001 (2001) | Members 3,700 (2013) | |
Key people Chair: Prof. Andy Newton QAM, PhDDeputy-Chair: John Martin Website www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk | ||
The College of Paramedics is the independent professional body for paramedics in the United Kingdom. The role of the College is to promote and develop the Paramedic profession across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Contents
- History
- College goverenance
- Membership
- Post Numeral and Fellowships
- Member Training
- Publications
- Representation
- References
The College represents the Paramedic profession across key organisations such as the UK regulator - Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the Department of Health and the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC).
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 introduction of professional registration of paramedics in 2000 led to a demand for the formation of a new professional body.
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 (Stephen Dolphin and Richard Lane) 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.
In 2009 its name was changed to the College of Paramedics. This reflected the association's 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.
In October 2013 the college had a membership around 3,700 - around 19% of registered UK Paramedics.
In November 2015 the college announced that they had been awarded registered charity status.
College goverenance
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.
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 has published policy, including;
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. 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.
Representation
The College represents the views and interests of the paramedic profession on various groups: