Editing Paramedic (section)

====United Kingdom====
{{Main|Emergency medical personnel in the United Kingdom}}
In the United Kingdom, ambulances were originally [[municipal]] services after the end of World War II. Training was frequently conducted internally, although national levels of coordination led to more standardization of staff training. Ambulance services were merged into county-level agencies in 1974, and then into regional agencies in 2006. The regional ambulance services, most often trusts, are under the authority of the [[National Health Service]] and there is now a significant standardization of training and skills. The UK model has three levels of ambulance staff. In increasing order of clinical skill these are: [[emergency care assistant]]s, [[emergency medical technician]]s, and paramedics.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

Today, university qualifications are expected for paramedics, with the current entry level being a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in Pre-Hospital Care or Paramedic Science.  As the title "Paramedic" is legally protected, those utilising must be registered with the [[Health and Care Professions Council]] (HCPC),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hcpc-uk.co.uk/aboutregistration/protectedtitles/|title=HCPC - Health and Care Professions Council - Protected titles|website=www.hcpc-uk.co.uk|access-date=2016-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020234236/http://hcpc-uk.co.uk/aboutregistration/protectedtitles/|archive-date=2016-10-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in order to qualify for registration you must meet the standards for registration, which include having a degree obtained through an approved course.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-04-23 |title=Entry requirements and training (paramedic) |url=https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/ambulance-service-team/roles-ambulance-service/paramedic/entry-requirements-and-training-paramedic |access-date=2018-03-19 |work=Health Careers |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HCPC - Health and Care Professions Council - Standards |url=http://www.hcpc-uk.org/publications/standards/index.asp?id=183 |access-date=2018-03-19 |website=www.hcpc-uk.org |language=en}}</ref> The change of entry requirements does not affect currently registered Paramedics, some of whom will still only have their entry qualification, but it is common for Paramedics to continue to progress through "top up" courses, for instance, to work towards a Bachelors of Science degree. This has led to Paramedics holding a wide range of qualifications, with some qualifications (such as master's degrees in Advanced or Paramedic Practice) being a pre-requisite for paramedic prescribing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NHS England » Prescribing training for paramedics |url=https://www.england.nhs.uk/ahp/med-project/paramedics/prescribing-training/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=www.england.nhs.uk}}</ref>

Paramedics work in various settings including NHS and Independent Ambulance Providers, Air Ambulances, Emergency Departments and other alternative settings.  Some paramedics have gone on to become ''Paramedic Practitioners'', a role that practices independently in the pre-hospital environment in a capacity similar to that of a [[nurse practitioner]]. This is a fully autonomous role, and such senior paramedics are now working in hospitals, community teams such as rapid response teams, and also in increasing numbers in general practice, where their role includes acute presentations, complex chronic care and end of life management. They work as part of the [[allied health professional]] team including Doctors, Nurses, physician Associates, Physiotherapists, Associate Physicians, Health Care Assistant and Clinical Pharmacists. Paramedic Practitioners also undertake examinations modelled upon the MRCGP (a combination of applied knowledge exams, clinical skills and work place based assessment) in order to use the title "specialist". There are also now a growing number of these advanced paramedics who are independent and supplementary prescribers. There are also 'Critical Care Paramedics' who specialise in acute emergency incidents.  In 2018, the UK government changed legislation allowing Paramedics to independently prescribe,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk/news/legislation-changing-to-enable-patients-to-benefit-from-paramedic-independent-prescribers|title=Legislation changing to enable patients to benefit from paramedic independent prescribers {{!}} News|website=www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref> which will open new pathways to Paramedics to progress into. This came into force on 1 April 2018, but did not immediately affect practice as guidance was still being written.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk/publications/independent-prescribing|title=Independent Prescribing {{!}} Professional Development|website=www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-04-15}}</ref>