Irish to UK paramedic

Para1

Hi all,
Im considering moving to the UK in the future and im just wondering how hard it is to get the irish paramedic qualification recognised? I understand there is a move to have Para`s and ECA`s in the UK, from what i can see we are well above the ECA level and below the Paramedic level. So where would we fit in? Cheers Folks

coolmoose

Each case is taken on it's individual merits, but in general if you complete a Paramedic training course in the UK, with a bit of on-the-road experience you would be able to get AP equivalency here. Or a Technician course in the UK will generally get you Paramedic equivalency here, although as you say, the Technician grade seems to be under threat from the ECA + Paramedic plan.

You would still have to wait for the HSE to advertise for qualified Paramedics before you could apply for a job with the HSE Ambulance Service.

maglite

Moving the other way moose,


IMO you'd get a IHCD Tech level out of our paramedic. (UK EMT) *assumption

coolmoose

maglite wrote: »

Moving the other way moose,


IMO you'd get a IHCD Tech level out of our paramedic. (UK EMT) *assumption

EDIT: Just saw that I didn't read Para1's post properly at all! I answered in the reverse situation!



Yes that would be a correct assumption - you'd most likely get Technician recognition in the UK for Paramedic here with some experience.

Possibly even Paramedic registration over there if you had enough experience and ancillary courses under your belt, with some add-on training such as cannulation, intubation etc.

The UK is unique in that they allow non-Paramedics to apply for Paramedic registration if they can prove experience and other education similar to Paramedic education standards - for example a nurse with years of pre-hospital care experience (say in the Army or similar) with a number of courses undertaken related to pre-hospital care could apply for Paramedic equivalency in the UK.

Para1

I may be wrong but isnt a Technican course only 8 weeks? if that`s all my paramedic qualification is worth its not saying much! how does an 8 week course match a 2 year diploma? clinical placements, internships, on the road assessments, PHTLS, driving courses, Call logs, numerous case studys etc.
While on paper our skills seem to match surly our clinical knowledge is much much higher?

coolmoose

Hence why you could apply for Paramedic recognition, as you technically have undertaken a Paramedic education course. Obviously you would need to upskill to certain interventions etc. but it's not beyond the realms of possibility that a PHECC Registered Paramedic here could be given Paramedic registration across the water in the UK.

It's not that's all it's worth but it would be hard to give the Irish Paramedic qualification equivalency with a grade that doesn't technically exist over there...we've a higher education standard than Technician, but less than Paramedic, so we fall between the stools, the natural thing is to award the lower equivalency unless it can be proven otherwise that the higher is deserved.

Graduate diploma award is for the Advanced Paramedic course, the Paramedic course is a Diploma award.

Elessar

If you're moving to the UK for work you would want to do it quickly. The NHS ambulance trusts are fast moving toward only employing HPC Paramedics with university degrees as opposed to the license itself. Eventually without a 4 year degree you won't be able to work for the NHS. You'll still get work with the private companies though (of which there are something like 230+ in the UK).

On the flipside of the coin - I know at least two EMTs working in Ireland who have taken the IHCD Ambulance Technician course in the UK and fly over every few weeks to complete placements with privates who cover 999 work in some regions - with the view to getting Paramedic recognition here. If they're successful, I can see a flood of people doing it as a way to upskill. It's just a travesty that Para training is still all tied up in this country.

Actual Paramedic

Elessar wrote: »

If you're moving to the UK for work you would want to do it quickly. The NHS ambulance trusts are fast moving toward only employing HPC Paramedics with university degrees as opposed to the license itself. Eventually without a 4 year degree you won't be able to work for the NHS. You'll still get work with the private companies though (of which there are something like 230+ in the UK).

On the flipside of the coin - I know at least two EMTs working in Ireland who have taken the IHCD Ambulance Technician course in the UK and fly over every few weeks to complete placements with privates who cover 999 work in some regions - with the view to getting Paramedic recognition here. If they're successful, I can see a flood of people doing it as a way to upskill. It's just a travesty that Para training is still all tied up in this country.

Write to PHECC and ask what they are doing about it?

As for the lads going over after doing the Tach course, will be interesting to see if they are successful, not sure they will be.

murf313

It's just a travesty that Para training is still all tied up in this country.

Give it a rest... every post you mention that its not fair....:rolleyes:

Maybe you should look at the reasons why you have been unsuccessful in the HSE recruitment drives and try to rectify them?

The system isnt broke, it works just fine. The current set up means the service gets the best candidates from a difficult selection criteria.

BoonDoc

Para1 wrote: »

I may be wrong but isnt a Technican course only 8 weeks? if that`s all my paramedic qualification is worth its not saying much! how does an 8 week course match a 2 year diploma? clinical placements, internships, on the road assessments, PHTLS, driving courses, Call logs, numerous case studys etc.
While on paper our skills seem to match surly our clinical knowledge is much much higher?

Just curious.....has anyone heard of anyone getting the PHECC Paramedic using the Ambulance Technician? That seams like a bit of a jump.....

antichrist

Elessar wrote: »

On the flipside of the coin - I know at least two EMTs working in Ireland who have taken the IHCD Ambulance Technician course in the UK and fly over every few weeks to complete placements with privates who cover 999 work in some regions - with the view to getting Paramedic recognition here. If they're successful, I can see a flood of people doing it as a way to upskill.

They will need to accumulate approx 1200 hours of working at that level before they will be able to get recognition.

The other issue I see with this is getting the qualification, then what? The HSE are not recruiting paramedics. There is a plan to recruit student paramedics, ensuring they get the training that the service sets out and this is the preferred method of obtaining staff.
All that work to get the blue phecc card and you go back to working PTS with a private company on the same wages as when you were EMT level.