From April 2021 Paramedics became part of the Primary Care Network (PCN) Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) funding. Since then we have been working closely with Primary Care Workforce Steering Groups to develop a rotational model for Paramedics to work in Primary Care. This ground-breaking collaboration with Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) provides a programme that delivers the Paramedic staff needed for PCNs and offers a fulfilling work mix for Paramedics without destabilising the capacity of YAS to deliver emergency services. All Paramedics working in the rotational model remain employed and paid by Yorkshire Ambulance Service.
Previous Paramedic primary care pilots have shown that whilst Paramedics enjoy the role in primary care and the opportunity to apply their skills in different ways, many would prefer a rotational model rather than working in primary care full-time. Our rotational model helps promotes collaborative working between primary care and urgent care and provides a better understanding of each other’s roles, creating the opportunity to take shared learning into different environments. The benefits of close working between primary and urgent care services have proven to move care closer to home thus allowing patient access to a wider range of support services and improved financial efficiency within the system.
Whilst an obvious role for Paramedics in primary care is supporting patient home visits, they also have significant experience in seeing acutely unwell patients. They become a key member of the primary care team seeing acute presentations in their own clinics. Working in both clinics and domiciliary care is important for the Paramedic to achieve the volume of experience required as a First Contact Practitioner. As registered professionals they can undertake further education in primary care including chronic disease management and are eligible to undertake prescribing courses.
