Emergency care assistant

Implementation

Each regional ambulance service determines its own criteria around what is needed to become an ECA. They are amongst the lowest paid front line staff in the NHS, typically being paid at AfC band 3 or 4.

Ambulance crew unions and a range of healthcare professionals have expressed reservations about having ambulance services employ a large number of ECAs, both before and after the change. Unions representing ambulance workers had fears that the workforce changes could lead to an increase in the risk to patients as well as adding to the workload of paramedics and had written to East Midlands Ambulance Service to ask for the reintroduction of the technician role.

Another issue is the amount of driving an ECA has to do during a 12-hour shift, as driving time regulations do not apply to emergency services. Whilst either of the crew members may drive when responding to an emergency case, the paramedic is more likely to attend a patient during an emergency transport, meaning that the ECA is likely to do more driving.

The Emergency Ambulance Crew (St John Ambulance) qualification is regarded to be equivalent to an Emergency Care Assistant. They can render initial aid and assist with the management of a patient, but cannot make clinical decisions in the context of 999 work. They are permitted more autonomy on events which are not regulated or overseen by the NHS.

In December 2014, after a steep rise in the number of paramedics on long term sick leave suffering stress, Yorkshire Ambulance Service said they would be bringing back the technician role.

Career development

There is a route for some ECAs to progress to Technician level. A training programme is run by the East of England Ambulance NHS Trust (EEAST) which aims to help ECAs progress to technician within 1 year of their basic training; by November 2015, most ECAs working for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) have made the transition from ECA to Technician on this programme.

ECAs who wish to progress to become a paramedic will need to complete a University degree, Some employers do provide structured training to support this, with an expectation that it would take at least two and a half years for an ECA to complete this on a part-time basis.

References

References

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2. Andalo, Debbie. (20 February 2013). "How to get ahead in … the paramedic service". [[Guardian Media Group]].
3. (7 November 2011). "Emergency Care Assistants replace paramedics for 999 calls as cuts hit ambulance trusts". [[Telegraph Media Group]].
4. "Job profiles:Emergency care assistant". National Career Service (UK).
5. "National profiles for ambulance services". NHS Employers.
6. (25 January 2005). "Emergency cover changes confirmed". [[BBC]].
7. (9 May 2007). "Ambulance crews' anger at changes". BBC.
8. Triggle, Nick. (11 December 2007). "Ambulance shake-up 'poses risks'". BBC.
9. (7 August 2008). "Unison angry over training scheme". BBC.
10. (9 November 2009). "Volunteers relied on as 999 crews". BBC.
11. (7 January 2013). "Yorkshire Ambulance Service proposes workforce changes". BBC.
12. (19 March 2013). "East Midlands ambulance union criticises staff policy". BBC.
13. (19 December 2014). "Emergency cover changes confirmed". BBC.
14. (25 November 2014). "Chelmsford lifesaver first in Mid-Essex to complete enhanced lifesaving skills course". East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST).
15. "Become a paramedic". [[College of Paramedics]].
16. (June 2014). "ECA To Paramedic Frequently asked Questions". East Midlands Ambulance Service.