Over the last 50 years, the paramedic workforce has developed from a vocational in-house ambulance training base to an academically qualified, highly skilled and knowledgeable critical decision making profession. Since the first pre-registration honours degree in 1998, paramedic degrees have grown in number and are now taught in 46 universities around the UK along with nine level six apprenticeships.

Over recent years, we have seen the workforce evolve from being very male-dominated to a near 50/50 split of males and females. However, the same progression has not been made when it comes to the ratio of individuals applying to study paramedicine at university from diverse backgrounds.

According to the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC 2021) the paramedic profession has approximately five per cent black, Asian and other ethnic minority staff. This contrasts with all other AHP and HCPC-registered staff that are reported to be 15 per cent and 22.1 per cent for the whole of the NHS. The population of the UK is currently estimated to consist of 13.3 per cent (Office of National Statistics) Black, Asian or other minority ethnic groups.

If our workforce doesn’t represent the populations it serves then we are potentially creating health inequalities due to a lack of understanding of the health and care needs of our local populations as well as enabling accessibility barriers due to perceptions. Evidence is clear that some under-represented communities need encouragement to apply  to become paramedics and that encouragement is increased when people can see and hear others who are from the same, or similar backgrounds to themselves.

Paramedics today work in many different settings. This film gives just a small glimpse  of where paramedics can work and what they do. Click here to see what other roles paramedics are employed in.

Sarah Todd, Diversity, Equity and Belonging Manager of the College of Paramedics, said:
“Universities and Trusts have, in the past tried to recruit paramedic students and staff from minoritised groups with mixed success. Despite the successes, we as a profession are still woefully under-representative of the general public. The College of Paramedics are working on a number of projects this year which aim to reverse this situation. This film will be the first part of this journey and is an important demonstration of the fact that there are people from minority groups working, and thriving in paramedic roles. Whilst our focus is currently on recruitment; in future, our efforts will include how we look after, retain and develop paramedics from under-represented groups, so that with the knowledge and understanding this brings, of the needs of the public we serve, we can eventually eliminate health inequalities.”

Kirsty Lowery-Richardson, Head of Education of the College of Paramedics, said:
“The College of Paramedics are committed to growing our profession to be fair, equitable and inclusive, but most importantly representative of the populations we serve across the UK. 
There remains much to be done to ensure that our education programmes are attractive and accessible to learners that want to become paramedics, regardless of their background, beliefs or heritage. Our Curriculum Guidance will start to address some of this in 2023.

This video is a great initiative to demonstrate the opportunities available to all paramedics.”

We are happy for this video to be shared and promoted wherever possible, to inspire the next generation of students to become paramedics.

The video has been produced by the College of Paramedics in association with Health Education England (HEE). 

The College of Paramedics would like to thank the following people and organisations for participating and supporting the video: 
Mahdiyah Bandali
Richard Webb-Stevens
Matondo Manzeninga
Steph Meech

The University of Hertfordshire
Professor Julia Williams
Dr Vince Clarke
Paul Townsend

The University of Hertfordshire students: 
Cameron Smith
Wojciech Bemben
Eleanor Elston
Emily Wilson
Joseph Jones