Paramedics

A paramedic is a registered health professional who provides healthcare services mainly in urgent or emergency care situations. They assess, diagnose and treat patients in these settings, and can also provide clinical advice, referral and, where required, transport.  

Paramedics are required to have a practicing certificate and have completed a Bachelor of Health Science in Paramedicine from Auckland University of Technology or Whitireia New Zealand.  

Paramedics are most commonly thought of in connection with ambulance services, but they’re increasingly being employed within GP practices.  

Image credit: Hato Hone St John, NZ

Some paramedics, known as extended care paramedics (ECPs), have advanced knowledge and skills and specialise in acute primary and preventive care in the community. 

An ECP has completed postgraduate qualifications and has specialist training, skills and knowledge to treat a range of conditions in the community. They can carry out skills such as suturing wounds and prescribing medicines under specific guidelines called ‘standing orders’. 

ECPs working in a GP clinic are supervised by a doctor or nurse practitioner for at least 6 months. Having an ECP in a GP clinic can reduce wait times to see a GP. 

Paramedics can work in public, private or community-based organisations. Many are involved in emergency ambulance services such as Hato Hone St John New Zealand(external link) or the Wellington Free Ambulance. 

Their roles include: 

• responding to 111 emergency calls – assessing and treating patients involved in accidents and medical emergencies or other incidents
• assessment and diagnosis, including determining the severity of medical problems
• providing advanced life support, which might include intubation, defibrillation, wound care and management of fractures, and pain relief
• safe transport of patients to hospital or other medical facilities  
• providing care by air ambulance to remote or hard-to-reach places
• providing non-emergency care, eg, welfare checks for vulnerable people
• providing medical support at public events, sports matches and concerts  
• educating people on first aid, health promotion and being prepared for emergencies.

There are also paramedics providing expert health advice on Healthline(external link), Aotearoa New Zealand’s free 24/7 over-the-phone health service. 

A paramedic or extended care paramedic working in a GP practice will have a range of responsibilities. These can include: 

• answering phone calls and deciding which callers need an in-person appointment and how urgently 
  managing appropriate problems over the phone or via a video call
• providing patients with same-day or out-of-hours care when needed – this will be done with discussion with a GP or nurse practitioner if needed
• providing urgent care to people who turn up at the clinic with life-threatening conditions
• clinical assessment, eg, of ear, nose and throat problems or falls risk
• ongoing treatment and management to help people stay out of hospital, eg, wound care, inserting urinary catheters, constipation management, or giving antibiotics for bacterial infections  
• providing palliative and end of life care
• running shared appointments for people with the same condition
• home visits to people who don’t have transport to get to a GP clinic
• running clinics that focus on prevention and screening programmes, eg, vaccinations, blood pressure checks, and education about chronic conditions.

Image credit: Healthify He Puna Waiora

Paramedics can administer some medicines under ‘standing orders’ or under the direct supervision of an authorised prescriber (eg, a doctor or nurse practitioner). Standing orders allow certain healthcare providers who aren’t authorised to write prescriptions, such as paramedics or registered nurses, to supply or administer certain medicines, such as antibiotics.  

Paramedics can also give vaccinations if they’ve had training to do so.