Paramedics are very well trained and able to deal with the vast majority of emergencies that they are called to; however, the BEEP Doctors have specialist training in enhanced pre-hospital emergency care and provide an extra level of medical intervention not normally available until the patient reaches hospital. This stabilises the patient much sooner than would otherwise be the case and therefore improves their chances of a better long-term outcome.
See below the various steps that our Doctors need to have taken before becoming a BEEP Doctor.
BEEP Doctors (BASICs) Cumbria operate as a branch of BASICs North West and are overseen by BASICs National. BASICs is the British Association for Immediate Care Scheme and has been running since 1977. Other BASICS Schemes that form part of BASICs North West include Cheshire & Shropshire Immediate Care Scheme (CSI), Emergency Responders for Lancashire and Manchester (ER:LAM) and South Manchester Accident Rescue Team (SMART).
To join any BASICS Scheme as a doctor who responds to pre-hospital medical emergencies, doctors must have at least 5-years of post graduate experience. This means that all of our doctors have completed between 4 to 6 years of medical school (many of whom have completed additional degrees either during or before their medical degree), followed by two years of Foundation Training where doctors rotate around various specialties. Many of our doctors have then gone on to undertake or complete advanced specialised training in other areas of medicine including Primary Care, Emergency Medicine, Anaesthesia, Intensive Care Medicine and Acute Medicine. Some have even taken time to do wilderness, expedition, humanitarian, and event medicine – working in places from Mt. Everest to cruise ships and more!
Still even with all of this training and experience our doctors still need to undertake a robust training and assessment process to ensure that they are able to bring their skills seamlessly to the roadside. For this reason, all of our doctors are required to complete various pre-hospital care courses to put their skills to the test in the out of hospital world. Additionally, all of our doctors must complete a pre-hospital scene safety course and a blue light driving qualification to make sure they can keep themselves and others safe when responding to pre-hospital medical emergencies.
The PHEA course is a course delivered by the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) aimed at doctors and paramedics working in pre-hospital emergency medicine. The course focuses on the decision making around pre-hospital emergency anaesthesia, human factors and crew resource management, how to deliver anaesthesia safely in the pre-hospital environment and post intubation care of patients. For more information click here
The PHEMCC is another advanced course run by GNAAS. The course is a robust and intensive course aimed at doctors and paramedics and aims to equip them with the skills to operate safely within their competence in the pre-hospital environment. It fousses on human factors and non-technical skills, clinical and surgical skills, aviation and retrieval medicine theory, water rescue training, aircrew smoke and fire training, aircrew navigation and more. For more information, click here.
The ATACC course is currently the most advanced trauma course available worldwide. It is a rigorous course using the highest level of simulation fidelity to create an immersive and realistic training experience. The content of the course is divided equally between pre-hospital and in-hospital trauma care. To find out more click here
PHTLS is an advanced trauma course aimed at healthcare professionals working in the pre-hospital environment. It equips them with the knowledge and skills to assess and manage patients who have sustained major traumatic injuries and make decisions about transporting them towards definitive care.
ATLS is an advanced trauma course delivered by the American College of Surgeons. It equips doctors with the knowledge and skills to assess and manage patients who have sustained major traumatic injuries.
APLS is an advanced resuscitation course delivered by the UK Resus council. It equips healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to care for children in cardiac arrest and those with other life threatening medical emergencies such as arrythmias.
ALS is an advanced resuscitation course delivered by the UK Resus council. It equips healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to care for patients in cardiac arrest and those with other life threatening medical emergencies such as arrythmias.
The BASICS ICC is an advanced pre-hospital care course aimed at experienced healthcare professionals who are currently or aiming to provide pre-hospital emergency care to patients. It is delivered and examined by the British Association for Immediate Care Schemes.
The DipIMC is an advanced qualification awarded by the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. It is only awarded to doctors, paramedics, and nurses who have passed a rigorous examination process and demonstrated excellence in Pre-Hospital Care.
The FIMC is the highest qualification in Pre-Hospital Care awarded by the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. It is only awarded to healthcare professionals who have demonstrated the highest standard of Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine in a rigorous examination process. This qualification is a requirement to qualify as a Consultant in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine.
The DipRTM is an advanced qualification awarded by the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. It is only awarded to doctors, paramedics and nurses who have passed a rigorous examination process and demonstrated excellence in Transfer and Retrieval Medicine.
The BASICS PHEC course is a an advanced pre-hospital care course aimed at healthcare professionals who are looking to expand their skills in pre-hospital emergency care. It is for those who are suitably experienced and who are either currently working in or aspiring to work for a pre-hospital emergency care service.
