Program Overview
The MSc Paramedic Science (Pre Registration) program at the University of West London prepares students to become paramedics, providing them with the knowledge, skills, and clinical expertise necessary for safe and effective patient care in pre-hospital and out-of-hospital environments. Delivered in collaboration with the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, the two-year program features extensive practice placements in various healthcare settings, ensuring students meet HCPC registration standards upon graduation and can pursue careers as qualified paramedics in the NHS or other healthcare organizations.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This MSc Paramedic Science (Pre Registration) masters degree is designed for individuals who aspire to become paramedics. The program aims to provide the essential knowledge, skills, and clinical expertise necessary for delivering safe and effective treatment to patients in pre-hospital and out-of-hospital environments. The program is delivered in collaboration with the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, the busiest emergency ambulance service in the UK.
Objectives:
- To develop the knowledge, skills, and clinical expertise to deliver safe, effective, and appropriate treatment to service users with urgent, emergency, and unscheduled healthcare requirements.
- To prepare graduates for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a paramedic.
Program Description:
- Designed for individuals with a healthcare profession undergraduate degree or another degree with considerable experience in a healthcare setting.
- A two-year program aimed at enabling students to become registered paramedics.
- Includes extensive practice-based learning components with placements in various healthcare settings, including:
- London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
- Residential care homes
- Ward areas
- Hospices
- GP surgeries
- Operating theaters
- Intensive care/high dependency units
- Mental health environments
- Maternity and children's services
Outline:
Year 1:
Compulsory Modules:
- Applied Paramedic Science 1: This module focuses on providing students with the foundational knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required for effective communication, clinical assessment, and treatment initiation for individuals with various injuries or health problems. It emphasizes the ability to assess the quality of evidence and translate it effectively into everyday practice and service delivery.
- Population Health and Behavioural Science for Paramedic Practice: This module explores the impact of psycho-social and economic factors on health outcomes for individuals and populations. It aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to understand the interconnectedness of these factors and the role of multi-agency collaboration and behavioral interventions in improving health outcomes.
- Paramedic Practice Year 1: This module encompasses the practice assessment document (PAD) requirements, including:
- PAD 2: Elements of Practice – Year 1 requirements
- PAD 3: Year 1 Placement Outcomes
- PAD 5: Healthcare Placements (as relevant to allocated placement areas)
- PAD 6: Skills Passport – Year 1 requirements
Year 2:
Compulsory Modules:
- Applied Paramedic Science 2: Building on the knowledge and skills acquired in year 1, this module equips students with the ability to manage simple multi-casualty situations, undertake dynamic risk assessment, and make evidence-based decisions in treating patients with time-critical acute or chronic injuries or illnesses.
- Managing Safety and Complexity in Paramedic Care Delivery: This module explores the crucial role of paramedics in responding to complex and major incidents in out-of-hospital settings. It provides students with the knowledge, leadership skills, and clinical expertise to understand their role within national guidelines and effectively deliver protocols and requirements during special response incidents, including end-of-life care.
- Improving Paramedic Practice and Service Delivery (Dissertation): This module challenges students to synthesize evidence and create a compelling case for paramedic practice or service improvement aimed at enhancing patient safety and experience.
- Paramedic Practice Year 2: This module ensures students meet the HCPC Standards of Proficiency – Paramedics (2014), fulfilling the requirements of the following components of the PAD:
- PAD 2: Elements of Practice – Year 2 requirements
- PAD 4: Year 2 Placement Outcomes
- PAD 5: Healthcare Placements (as relevant to allocated placement areas)
- PAD 6: Skills Passport – Year 2 requirements
Assessment:
The assessment methods for this program are designed to evaluate students' ability to demonstrate the learning outcomes for each module and the overall MSc Paramedic Science learning outcomes. The assessments aim to ensure that students are consistently competent and capable in both academic and real-life settings. Assessment methods include:
- Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
- Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and short-answer exams
- Reflective logs
- Essays
- Rapid systematic review and improvement plan
- Presentations
- Practice assessment document
Teaching:
A diverse range of teaching and learning approaches are employed to cater to the diverse backgrounds and experiences of students. These methods include:
- Technology-enhanced learning
- Lectures and seminars
- Simulated learning
- Forum theaters
- Service user and carer involvement
- Social media
- Inter-professional learning
- Practice-based learning
- Critical reflection
- Critical analysis and synthesis of evidence
Teaching Staff:
- Neil Larman: Course leader with extensive experience in both clinical and educational settings within the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
Careers:
Upon successful completion of the program and registration with the HCPC, graduates are eligible to pursue careers as qualified paramedics. The majority of paramedics work in NHS Ambulance Trusts. Graduates may also find opportunities in:
- GP surgeries
- Walk-in centers
- Minor injury units
- Helicopter emergency services
- Oil rigs
- Research units
Other:
- The program emphasizes a strong focus on practice-based learning, with a total of 1,640 hours of practice placements spread across two years.
- The program emphasizes the importance of professional standards and ethics in paramedic practice.
- The program includes a focus on service user involvement and the importance of patient-centered care.
- The program provides students with the opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills.
- The program includes a component on managing safety and complexity in paramedic care delivery, focusing on responding to complex and major incidents.
- The program aims to equip students with the ability to critically evaluate evidence and improve paramedic practice and service delivery.
- The program offers a conditional offer of employment with the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust upon successful completion.
