NSW’s health system is undergoing staff reforms aimed at upskilling and retaining its workforce. Photo: NSW Ambulance.
The NSW Ambulance service is welcoming 14 newly trained Extended Care Paramedics (ECPs) to its ranks following the completion of their training.
This is the 26th ECP course delivered by NSW Ambulance since the program began in 2007.
ECPs are paramedics who are already registered with the NSW Ambulance service and have completed additional training that enhances their skills and gives them a new range of clinical experience.
ECPs are trained to care for patients with conditions suitable for alternative clinical pathways to emergency treatment, where it is safe and medically appropriate to do so.
The education program at the NSW Ambulance State Operations Centre runs for 10 weeks, of which two are dedicated to clinical placement on the road as well as in hospitals. New ECPs will start their work as independent clinicians within the next week.
Among the recent graduates are June Munday, who has five years’ experience as a paramedic, and Peter Wilson, a 25-year veteran who is trained in special operations and rescue.
“The part of the job I love the most is patient care, spending time with people and building a real rapport,” Ms Munday said.
”Becoming an Extended Care Paramedic means I can do more of that while giving patients safe alternatives to hospital when it’s appropriate.
“This role is about empowering patients with information and options, while continuing to grow my own skills.”
Mr Wilson said: “After more than 20 years as a paramedic, the knowledge I’ve gained through this course has been incredible. ECPs take a broad, holistic approach to patient care that really complements the work I’ve done across special operations.”
ECPs are now operating across Sydney, the Illawarra, the Central Coast, the Inner Hunter region and the North Coast through a pilot program.
But they can also be deployed to areas with far greater need in special circumstances, such as during the recovery phase following severe weather on the Mid North Coast and in the Hunter/New England area earlier this year.
The NSW Government has taken further steps to develop a first-class ambulance service by recruiting and deploying 500 regional paramedics, implementing ratios in emergency departments, saving 1112 nurses from unemployment, introducing study subsidies for future healthcare workers, and abolishing the wages cap and delivering the largest pay rise to healthcare workers in 10 years.
