Roles in the ambulance service

If you have a caring nature, good communication and organisational skills and an ability to stay calm, an ambulance service career could be the one for you.

Discover the entry roles into the ambulance team

• Ambulance care assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) driver

  You'll drive disabled, elderly, sick or vulnerable people to and from outpatient clinics, day care centres and routine hospital admissions.

  Becoming an ambulance care assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) driver [1]

  

• Call handler/emergency medical dispatcher

  You'll deal with emergency calls from the public and make sure that the right help reaches people as soon as possible.

  Becoming a call handler/emergency medical dispatcher [2]

  

• Emergency care assistant

  You'll work with paramedics as part of emergency ambulance crews attending 999 calls. 

  Becoming an emergency care assistant [3]

  

• Emergency medical technician

  You may operate as a single responder to an incident or support a paramedic on a double-crewed ambulance. You’ll have many of the same skills as paramedics, such as being able to assess, triage and provide lifesaving treatment. 

  Becoming an emergency medical technician [4]

  

• Patient Transport Service (PTS) call handler

  You'll have a key role in ensuring patients who are frail or vulnerable and have no other means of transport get to their healthcare appointments safely and on time. 

  Becoming a Patient Transport Service (PTS) call handler [5]

  

• Paramedic

  You’ll often be one of the first to arrive when a patient needs help.

  It’s a fast-paced and vital role where you’ll need to quickly take charge of the situation to save lives.

  Becoming a paramedic [6]

  

Career development opportunities for paramedics

• Experienced paramedic

  You'll have worked as a paramedic for two years and progressed to roles that allow you to carry out more treatments, specialise in specific areas and take on more responsibility.

  [7]