Emergency care assistant

An emergency care assistant is a type of emergency medical service worker in the United Kingdom, often used to support paramedics in responding to emergency calls.[1]

This frontline staff role was introduced in 2006 as part of the modernisation of NHS emergency ambulances and also to lower costs. By 2011 there were 2000 people working as ECAs in the United Kingdom.[2] The role has varied scope across the country, as it is defined by the local ambulance service policy, although the role primarily involves assisting ambulance clinicians. ECAs are typically trained with emergency driving skills.[1] They may carry out basic diagnostic procedures under the direct supervision of a paramedic.[3] The College of Paramedics does not expect ECAs to be required to make complex clinical decisions.[4]

  1. ^ a b "Careers in the ambulance service: Emergency care assistant". NHS Careers. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  2. ^ Rainey, Sarah; Adams, Stephen (7 November 2011). "Emergency Care Assistants replace paramedics for 999 calls as cuts hit ambulance trusts". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference NCS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Andalo, Debbie (20 February 2013). "How to get ahead in … the paramedic service". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 10 February 2015.