Meet our Specialist PCN Paramedics!

 

What is a specialist PCN Paramedic?

A PCN Paramedic will support primary care to deliver patient services across our practices. Our Paramedics are specially trained to meet with patients to treat acute illness or injury. They work within our practices as an autonomous, accountable Paramedic providing holistic care for individuals including assessment, diagnosis, management, prescribing and treatment.

Our Paramedics use advanced clinical and communication skills to encourage and empower patients to look after their own health and wellbeing, and promote self-management where appropriate.

Northgate’s Paramedics are under GP supervision to ensure care is delivered at the highest standards ensuring delivery of high-quality patient care.

paramedic
 

georgie

Georgie Allsworth

FdSc TrACP PGCert SP 

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Shaun Paterson

BSc MCPara PGCert TrACP SP

olivia

Olivia Martin

BSc DipHE PGCert SP

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I be reassured that I am seeing the right practitioner? 

Our Paramedics are specially trained to deal with acute illness & injury. They have an advanced qualification in order to meet with patients (independently) within a GP surgery. This is where the title of ‘Specialist PCN’ comes into their role. 

I wanted to book an appointment with a GP, why am I seeing a Paramedic?

When you call the practice needing urgent medical treatment or support, you will placed onto our triage list. The duty of managing our triage procedure will always be a GP. The GP will read the assessment notes taken by a Patient Advisor & allocate your problem accordingly. The delegation will be passed to the clinician who has the appropriate skills to help you as best they can. If you have been allocated to one of our Paramedics, this will be because they have specialist qualifications & skill set in order to help you. Furthermore,  seeing a Paramedic who is qualified to deal with your issue means that your medical problem might be dealt with a lot sooner than waiting for a call from a GP. 

What does it mean for me if my appointment has been scheduled with a Paramedic, is it an emergency? 

No, it is not an emergency and our Paramedics are not emergency responders (although, they are qualified to do this, and they started their career in the Ambulance Service). Do not worry. However, if ours Paramedics feels that your condition would be better treated by an ambulance crew or you need to be taken to hospital, they will call for an ambulance using your GP bypass number. They may also liaise with one of the GPs, if the need further advice or feel that you should be seen by another clinician. 

I thought Paramedics were based in the ambulances. What’s the difference between an emergency responder and a PCN Paramedic?

The Paramedics that you see on the road are called emergency responders. They work alongside Police Officers, the Fire Service and other ‘on-the-road’ staff such as Critical Care Practitioners  and HEMS. A Specialist PCN Paramedic will have trained as an emergency responder in order to obtain their qualified status as a Paramedic, they then completed an advanced qualification in ‘Advanced Practice Minor Illness & Injury’ (Level 7),  which enables them to work within a GP surgery, accessing patients and providing exceptional care, promptly & effectively. 

 

Northgate Health Centre - Paramedic Campaign 2024

A PCN Paramedic will support primary care to deliver patient services across our practices. Our Paramedics are specially trained to meet with patients to treat acute illness or injury. They work within our practices as an autonomous, accountable Paramedic providing holistic care for individuals including assessment, diagnosis, management, prescribing and treatment.

Our Paramedics use advanced clinical and communication skills to encourage and empower patients to look after their own health and wellbeing, and promote self-management where appropriate. Northgate’s Paramedics are under GP supervision to ensure care is delivered at the highest standards ensuring delivery of high-quality patient care.

Published: Oct 10, 2024