Ambulance boss fears losing key workers to Shropdoc

Barry McKinnon, Shropshire area manager for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the service had lost several experienced paramedics, and although able to recruit replacement staff, they still require up to 30 months of training.

Mr McKinnon said five paramedics had left to take up posts as 'urgent care practitioners', which are currently being advertised by Shropdoc.

They are advertised at £35,373 per year, plus bonuses for unsocial hour uplifts, and require staff to work a 37-and-a-half hour week. The posts have two key roles – clinical assessment of patients over the telephone, and working with other health professionals such as GPs to access the most appropriate care for patients.

Mr McKinnon said: "We are currently faced with the impact of Shropdoc starting to recruit urgent care practitioners."

"They are targeting paramedics and we have lost five to Shropdoc and they are looking for more."

He added: "If they continue to recruit our staff at a higher pay band then it is going to have a significant impact."

Mr McKinnon said that while paramedics are replaced, the service still loses out on experience

"West Midlands Ambulance Service does not have any vacancies because we are losing experienced paramedics and bringing in new paramedics.

"But you cannot just get experienced ones off the shelf."

Ian Winstanley, chief executive at Shropdoc, said: "We are currently recruiting a particular skillset which embraces the advanced nursing practitioners, advanced paramedics and physicians associates.

"We always strive to have the best clinicians to meet the needs of our patients."