PARAMEDIC TRAINING at WHITSTABLE MEDICAL PRACTICE Carolyn Nelson Practice Manager Whitstable Medical Practice Tuesday 11 th December 2012

Whitstable © J M Ribchester

Organisation Required to ‘Host’ a Paramedic Practitioner from the Practice viewpoint  The most important person in the Practice is the Training Administrator who is responsible for all aspects of organising the placements  Practice expresses interest in having a Paramedic Practitioner placed with the practice  In order to do this the Practice must have an ST3 who has completed the CSA exam  The Practice has timetables for the 8 week period the Practitioners are with us.  Before the Practitioners start the Practice issues the Paramedics with the following information: Fire instructions for the buildings they will be working in Accident/Incident reporting procedure Practice Health & Safety Policy Honorary contract between the Paramedic Practitioner and their GP Trainer

How do the doctors view having a Paramedic training in the Practice  They generally find them very knowledgeable, experienced and highly motivated.  Enthusiastic adult learners  They are keen to acquire skills but with high safety standards  The Practitioners always know their limits and will ask for help  They are very useful members of the team and work well in the minor injury unit.  They also work well alongside the nurses in the minor illness clinics

How do we timetable the Paramedic Practitioner training TIMETABLE FOR PARAMEDIC PRACTITIONER  INDUCTION WEEK ONE 15/10/12  Other things that go on:-  Doctors visits each lunchtime, discussed at 10.30am coffee break tend to leave for visits around depending on doctor – find most interesting useful ones and ask to join GP if possible  Treatment Room/MIU Estuary View always busy and nurses would be happy for you to shadow/help if you find yourself with nothing planned.  Treatment Room at Whitstable Medical Centre and Chestfield Medical Centre, will rota these in as and when appropriate.  District nursing/community matron team – we can arrange for you to go out with then which will be very educational.  Monday lunchtime meetings held at EVMC with Doctors/Nurses to be confirmed Dateampm MondayVision Training (medical software) MIU TuesdayMIUSit in with GP Trainer WednesdayT/Room CMC Thursday T/Room WHC Friday Sit in with GP Trainer MIU

How do we timetable the Paramedic Practitioner training TIMETABLE FOR PARAMEDIC PRACTITIONER  INDUCTION WEEK 7  Other things that go on:-  Doctors visits each lunchtime, discussed at 10.30am coffee break tend to leave for visits around depending on doctor – find most interesting useful ones and ask to join GP if possible  Treatment Room/MIU Estuary View always busy and nurses would be happy for you to shadow/help if you find yourself with nothing planned.  Treatment Room at Whitstable Medical Centre and Chestfield Medical Centre, will rota these in as and when appropriate.  District nursing/community matron team – we can arrange for you to go out with then which will be very educational.  Monday lunchtime meetings held at EVMC with Doctors/Nurses to be confirmed Dateampm MondaySee Patients 30 min appts Dr TC overseeing See Patients 30 min appts Dr TC overseeing TuesdaySit in with ST3 MIU WednesdaySitting with with Respiratory Nurses Observe Prostate Clinic Thursday Sitting in Diabetic Clinic Sit in with GP Trainer Friday See patients 30 min appts a.m Tutorial with GP Trainer See Patients 30 min appts

Additional Information  Paramedic placement is successful if they take ownership of their learning and guide the Practice/Trainer so they can achieve their learning goals.  Some Practitioners prefer to observe while others are keen to see patients on their own  It is a two way learning process and the ST3’s enjoy interacting and exchanging skills especially around consultations

A Paramedics viewpoint of time with the Practice Fortunate to spend time training with the Practice I cannot find anything negative about my experience Treated with courtesy and professionalism Staff were positive, professional, calm and with excellent patient skills and attitude

A Paramedic now working in the Practice! Jeannette came to us from Hastings as they could not find a placement nearer to her home.  After 8 weeks she wanted to stay with us and has now split her duties between SECAMB and the Minor Injury Unit at Estuary View Medical Centre  Ambulance staff have always had good diagnostic and excellent life saving skills but by bringing those skills into the MIU and working alongside Emergency Care Nurses with their ability to diagnose, treat and discharge has resulted in an excellent service for the patients.  Jeannette feels that working for the two services gives her the chance to enhance her abilities as an all round practitioner.

Problems  Space!  With 4 trainers in the Practice we struggle to find rooms for the Paramedic Practitioners.  Time for the trainers to oversee the Paramedics and their GP registrars  They all want to come back and work for us!!