Paramedic Scope of Practice

In the United Kingdom (UK), the term, 'Paramedic', is a statutorily regulated profession, with its title protected in law. Only those persons who are registered by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) may legally describe themselves as Paramedics within the UK.

The primary purpose of registration is to protect the public and ensure professions have threshold standard of proficiency which outlines to service users the behaviours they can expect of Paramedics.

Therefore, in gaining and maintaining registration, paramedics must adhere to the following HCPC standards:
• Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.
• Standards of Proficiency for Paramedics.
• Standards of Continuing Professional Development.
• Guidance on Health and Character.

As part of this regulation, the HCPC also outline requirements around professional standards for scope of practice. Scope of practice is defined as the limit of knowledge, skills and experience which individuals possess in relation to their professional role, and the enactment of these lawfully, safely and effectively.

Contemporary paramedic practice has developed a great deal since the first recorded inception of 'Paramedics', working alongside a cardiologist within a cardiac scheme in Brighton in August 1971, and in Bristol in January 1972.

Paramedics in the UK first became registered in November 2000 with the [then] Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM), and since 2003 have been regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (initially called the Health Professions Council between 2001-2003). Within this regulation is intertwined the requirement for autonomy in exercising individual professional judgement.

Scope of practice considers the exercise of professional judgement, autonomy and the decision making the Paramedic requires to practice safely. This fundamentally protects service users; ensures they can expect a reasonable standard of care for paramedics and maintains public confidence in the profession.

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