Critical Care Practitioners
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Critical Care Practitioners (CCPs) are registered practitioners who have undertaken additional post registration higher education and clinical development to undertake an advanced assessment and the management of critically ill or injured patients with high acuity care needs during the prehospital transfer/retrieval phase. The CCP responds to 999 life or limb-threatening emergencies, inter-hospital transfers, urgent hospital admissions and other allocated patient interventions and delivers high-quality and effective care.
The role requires the individual to be flight trained and they must achieve the ‘Fitness to Fly’ competencies. They are also required to use advanced driving skills under blue light and normal traffic conditions to respond to emergency and routine calls as required (including RRVs and ambulances).
Our CCP’s are required to lead in the autonomous delivery of patient care through the leadership, coordination and proactive management of serious illness and/or injury at incidents, with remote clinical support, maximising patient outcomes. This involves the identification, resource deployment, clinical oversight and direction of patients to the most appropriate setting.
They travel by helicopter or road to provide hospital standard care on scene to critically unwell patients.
What training does a CCP undertake?
The Critical Care Practitioners (CCP) that join EMRTS tend to come from a paramedic or nursing background. However, to reach the level of a CCP, they are still required to commence and complete the EMRTS CCP training programme.
Within year 1, the CCPs complete their induction training which discusses both the clinical and operational duties of the service. The clinical training is weighted towards simulation-based education, utilising manikins in a variety of clinical scenarios such as a fall from height, a pedestrian who has been run over or a medical cardiac arrest. The clinical observations presented to that trainee CCP are controlled by the faculty in response to the management and treatment administered. The CCP will also have to complete the HEMS TCM course (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Technical Crew Member) which will allow them to undertake the full range of aviation duties of the HEMS CCP.
Simultaneously, the CCP must undertake a number of courses both internally and externally, as well as capturing opportunities of learning within their clinical portfolio.
The second year of training sees the critical care practitioner embark on their level 7 education (i.e. MSc) and receive more specific drug and clinical case management training, including an internal assessment. Together with this the CCP must also obtain a Diploma in Immediate Medical Care by the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.
Over the next couple of years, the CCP will complete their MSc, other courses such as surgical skills and ultrasound training and they will work to complete all the necessary requirements within the CCP clinical portfolio.
Meet Derwyn Jones
This is what Derwyn had to say about being a Critical Care Practitioner on board the Wales Air Ambulance
Derwen’s journey started in September 2010, when he attended an access to science diploma at the local college. After completing his diploma, he secured a place at Swansea University to study paramedic science. As a newly qualified HCPC Paramedic, Derwyn began his career with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST), working in Aneurin Bevan North, predominantly at Bargoed Ambulance Station.
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Being so close to Wales’s capital city provided a baptism of fire and he had no choice but to hit the ground running. Hailing from north Wales, he was able to head ‘home’ when a transfer request was granted in 2015, where he settled into his new station at Caernarfon. Three years followed, working both the ambulance and rapid response vehicle (RRV) rota.
Despite his enjoyment in the role of a paramedic, Derwyn’s heart was set on working on the air ambulance.
He said: “The fast paced, ever-changing challenge of treating the sickest and most injured patients was something I aspired to do.
“I remember hearing about EMRTS and CCPs and doctors in a coffee room at the station and working on board the Wales Air Ambulance sounded like my dream job. The following days I researched the role of the CCP. I realised my portfolio at the time wasn’t sufficient, so I made sure I took every opportunity to strengthen my CV and experience to support any future applications.
“Following a couple of unsuccessful applications, I finally made the grade and was appointed as a CCP in Wales back in July 2019. This role continues to challenge me every day, the learning is endless, and I’m often out of my comfort zone, something that is very important to me as it enables me to grow, both as a person and clinician.”
Providing critical care to the people of Wales in their time of need is humbling, and most certainly a privilege that I always remind myself of.
Working on the air ambulance is a dream come true
Derwyn Jones, CCP
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