Who is affected?

Newly qualified paramedics

In 2025 approximately 40% of newly qualified paramedics [NQPs] are unable to find a job on the frontline (College of Paramedics, 2025). However, this figure does not state if this includes those in 'holding pools' or not. Many newly qualified Paramedics have been offered jobs with ambulance services but are remaining in a holding pool due to management reshuffles, employment freeze and NHS finance. Limited communications from ambulance servcies means that many newly qualified paramedics do not have a start date. NHS ambulance services have stated that newly qualified Paramedics are not allowed to work on the bank due to being unable to fulfil the NQP portfolio criteria. The Government has announced a 'Graduate Guarantee' scheme for newly qualified midwives and nurses, however has not included Paramedics (College of Paramedics, 2025). Tuition fees for Paramedic Science at University cost £27,750, which have recently been stated to increase to over £30,000 (BBC News, 2025) but will students have a job at the end of it? 

Current ambulance personnel

Future Care Capital (2023) state that in 2022, 1 in 16 NHS ambulance personnel took time-off for mental health related issues which is the equivalent of 11,00 staff. More than 1 Ambulance Service in 2022 reported around 30% of staff being off with mental health releated issues at one time. A Facebook page named 'UK Ambulance Humour' have recently requested an urgent investigation following two suicides of ambulance personnel within a few weeks of each other. Wiltshire 999 (2025) have also stated that these are unfortunately not isolated incidents and are linked to a deeper systemic crisis within the ambulance service. With an employment freeze currently in place, extra pressure has been put on the frontline ambulance personnel who are facing relentless workloads, being chronically understaffed and a lack of adequate mental health support. 

Furthermore, winter pressures also brings flu and other respiratory infections which directly affects the ambulance personnel and sickness. Already, ambulance services are sending out text messages to their employees to cover staff sickness, however, are they all being covered? 

Patients

The BBC reported in January  (2025)  the deaths of two patients whilst waiting for an ambulance to arrive. It is already heavily reported the hours that ambulance crews are queuing outside emergency departments, which impacts the amount of ambulances available to respond to emergencies (UNISON, 2025). Staff sickness further impacts the wait time for an ambulance.

What is at stake?

For newly qualified paramedics, skill fade is the biggest concern, going months without using any of their clinicial skills. As well as mistakes in their practice once working for a service due to having no support whilst awaiting a position.

Current ambulance personnel are at higher risk of burn out and mental health issues, meaning even less paramedics available as the newly qualified are not allowed to pick up shifts on a bank contract, despite all services having a clinical helpline available for all staff 24/7.

However, those most at stake are the patients who are having to wait hours for an ambulance and deteriorating in the meantime.

Why is now the time to act?

With winter pressures imminently upon us, a significant amount of ambulance personnel already off due to mental health and newly qualified paramedics unable to work bank shifts to help with the pressures... it no longer becomes at what cost does something change? but rather at WHOSE cost? 

Newly qualified paramedics are trained to provide the best, and most appropriate care. Encouraging the use of other pathways (not just the emergency department), and therefore these new paramedics could be assisting with keeping patients out of hospital and providing appropriate care. 

The change we're pushing for

We understand the ongoing pressure with finances within the NHS and are not asking for immediate full-time positions. We are pushing for a change to the newly qualified paramedic portfolio. We hope to change the policy that newly qualified Paramedics CAN work on the bank, pick up shifts when ambulance services are understaffed and to be able to complete the NQP portfolio whilst working bank shifts. We recommend ambulance services setting an amount of hours that NPQs are required to fulfil, as well as completing the portfolio before  being able to move up to a Band 6 Paramedic. 

 

Abi-Rose Barker, Bonnie Chilton, Rachael Wade